Wednesday, 31 August 2022

 Ms MAXWELL (Northern Victoria) (09:57): I had the pleasure of travelling through my electorate last week, visiting Daylesford, Kyneton and Heathcote and meeting with constituents. It was a privilege to attend the Hepburn shire citizenship award ceremony and then meet with Cr Lesley Hewitt and Kathleen Murray, who are two passionate women who are working with a campaign to try and save the Daylesford hospital. It requires serious investment to ensure it remains sustainable, viable and able to continue to serve the community and surrounding areas. This hospital requires urgent investment, and the campaign that they have put out into their community is ongoing and has the full support of the community. I spoke with them about the alternative of losing that hospital, which would be catastrophic for that region. They have asked me to continue to advocate to the government and implore the government to invest in what is much-needed infrastructure but also for the bigger picture to look at the entire health sector and the areas that that magnificent hospital serves. It is 160 years old, and it certainly needs some love and some more work to ensure that that community can enjoy the health services that it offers.