The Warburton Dream

I feel sad, no, devastated that the Trans-Australian Union Conference has sold Warburton Hospital. However, because the decision came more than two years ago, my feelings are tempered by a sense of relief; the grieving can now begin.

Warburton Hospital has a distinguished history of compassionately helping the sick, and a proud history as Australia s longest-standing health resort. I value history.

Unfortunately, the hospital s clientele has drifted to other, more fashionable centres with alternative philosophies. I wish I could reverse history.

The failure of the hospital is not the result of bad management, noncommital staff or a lack of clinical skills, Rather, it is the change in current health-care needs, the ability to treat many more diseases specifically and the financial changes forced by governments and other health-industry bodies.

The church can be proud
of the hospital's history
The resort brings back pleasant memories for me. A medical student, I worked in hydrotherapy, laboratory and radiology. Guests appreciated the baths, pools and gymnasium.

Then, as a doctor working in the hospital, I spent nine years In the l960s, 1970s and 1980s delivering babies (always at night it seemed), detoxifying and rehabilitating people addicted to alcohol and drugs, giving anaesthetics, removing tonsils and appendixes, and treating country and city patients.

I ve been a board member as the representative from the South Pacific Division for the past nine years, Of the current members, I think I have the most detailed knowledge of the hospital.

Yes, I'm sad to see it move from church ownership. However, I'm not sad to belong to a church that has shown, during almost all the 31 years of my association with the Warburton Hospital, tremendous financial and personnel support to keep it operating.

We can be proud of those who saw in Warburton Hospital a dream in which to personally participate.

I have a dream...
The Seventh-day Adventist Church's health message will not disappear with the loss of the hospital. The hundreds of disciples trained at Warburton now live in many parts of Australia and New Zealand, and are the church's health outreach in their communities.

The church in Australia will continue to search to find the "entering wedge" a reality in this new century, And not just vicariously from a hillside in the Yarra Valley, but personally In many other hearts and homes as individuals and, corporately, as churches.

Don't let the dream die
When the Trans-Tasman Union Conference sold the Auckland Adventist Hospital last year, it left a financial legacy that has been committed to health education and promotion for the people of New Zealand.

Although Warburton will not leave such a positive financial legacy, I hope the individuals, churches and conferences of Australia will not let the Warburton dream die, but keep the right arm strong and healthy

_________________________
Dr. Percy Harold, director, Adventist Health Department South Pacific Division