Health care made to measure

The integrated health centre, a partnership between Cabonne Council, the Greater Western Area Health Service and local community groups, was celebrated as a triumph of people power in the Molong community.

“I’ve always said rural towns and villages are made up of special people and today, as well as many other achievements, is living proof of that,” Cabonne Mayor Kevin Duffy said.

The $3.8 million centre is the first of its type in New South Wales and provides a combination of general medical, allied health, community and childcare services.

NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Health Dr Andrew McDonald, who opened the centre, said the service would act as a model for future health centres across the state.

“This is something that will lead the way for the rest of the state,” he said.

“Modern health care is all about linking health care into the community, it’s about wellness, illness prevention and helping people to stay at home.”

Dr McDonald said the centre would also attract new health care professionals to the region.

“I still teach medical students and they want to come to the country.” he said.

“Infrastructure like this is attractive to them because it gives them what they need.”

Construction of the centre was financed through a combination of council, state, federal and community funding.

Cr Duffy dismissed some community criticism that the centre should have been located in another town, such as Canowindra, which had the same population as Molong but was further from a major referral centre like Orange.

“We don’t make decisions on behalf of the State Government, there’s many places that these facilities could go to,” he said.

“We’re here to celebrate the Molong service which will compliment services available in Orange.”

The Waluwin Community Centre has been in operation since December.