ON THE MOVE: Peter Grenfell and Mick Henderson of Dawsons Removals load a bed ready for its long journey to Madagascar as Rotary Club of Orange members, Dick Jane, Geoff Bargwanna, Gordon Craig and John Hogan help out. Photo: STEVE GOSCH 0322sgbeds
A NUMBER of small hospitals in Madagascar will soon take delivery of 20 hospital beds once occupied by patients at the Orange Health Service’s Wattle Grove Mental Health Unit.
The generous gift comes after Orange Health Service wanted to find an alternative use for the electric and wind-up hospital beds, and two Parker bathing beds, which no longer meet Australia’s strict work, health and safety regulations.
The Rotary Club of Orange’s Geoff Bargwanna, a former Rotary district governor, said when he found out about the surplus beds he began calling his contacts at other Rotary clubs to find a home for the beds.
He was thrilled to learn the Rotary Club of Gosford was already organising a shipment of containers to Madagascar at the end of April and was keen to include the beds.
Dawsons Removals in Bathurst offered to transport the equipment to Gosford for free.
“I think it’s great, it’s wonderful,” Mr Bargwanna said.
“It show the world’s getting closer and closer.”
Mr Bargwanna said a representative of the Rotary Club of Gosford would be travelling to Madagascar to ensure the items made their way to those in need.
With the beds made of metal they pose no health threat to their new owners.
Regional manager for mental health and drug and alcohol Adrian Fahy said he was pleased equipment that was no longer serviceable in Australia would be put to good use.
“We’ve donated excess equipment before and commend the work of organisations such as Rotary,” Mr Fahy said.
Mr Fahy said the Wattle Grove Mental Health Unit was undergoing an upgrade.
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