Bass Coast Health is proud to announce the Acute Ward within the WHE will be known as Kodowlinun (pronounced Ko-dow-lin-um).
The name came after the BCH Board of Directors sought an Indigenous name for the surgical ward in the WHE as a mark of respect for the traditional owners of our land.
BCH’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First Nations Committee contacted the Bunurong Land Council, as part of the accepted process for all language matters. The Land Council’s Bunurong elders considered the request and gifted Kodowlinun, which means ‘I am better’.
“This name has been selected by elders of the Bunurong Land Council and gifted to BCH for this purpose. The adoption of this name has been supported by BCH’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First Nations Committee,” BCH CEO Jan Child said.
Throughout the corridors of the WHE, there also will be historic and scenic photos depicting moments in time and local landmarks, such as the iconic trestle bridge at Kilcunda. There are also photos of The Nobbies at Phillip Island and Eagles Nest at Inverloch in the public lifts.
“Wonthaggi Hospital has been an integral part of the local and broader Bass Coast and South Gippsland communities. With the opening of the expanded hospital marking a significant chapter in our region’s history, we are pleased to be able to celebrate that connection with our community by proudly displaying photos of our region’s environment and cultural identity,” Ms Child said.
In another point of interest, consumers will notice that the pattern in the bricks on the front of the WHE reflects a map of the region that the WHE serves: Bass Coast and South Gippsland. They will even see the distinctive landmark of Wilsons Promontory.
The brickwork also carries the names of local towns that fall within the catchment of Bass Coast Health, creating a strong visual link with the local community.