Category Archives: BHAG Meetings

BHAG 2022 AGM – Minutes & Financials

President’s Report – 2022 AGM

I would like to thank the members of the 2020/2021 Committee for their contribution, and for agreeing to stand again in 2022/2023:

President: Pauline Murphy
Vice President: Fenella Briscomb
Secretary: Fenella Briscomb
Treasurer: John Conway
Committee Members: Charlotte Blesing, Marlene Howes, Anna Strek and Janette Lovell
Consultant VMO: Dr, Derek Bell
Public Officer: Fenella Briscomb

  • The VMO situation is currently stable – Dr. Bell will update us later in the meeting, and I would like to thank him for his continued support.
  • Thanks to Kevin Doye for his Getup petition which currently has 3,983 signatures and was integral to publicising the threat to Emergency Department cut backs.
  • Also, thanks to Dr. Andrew Heslop for his excellent article in the Coffs Coast paper which really got things moving.
  • Gardening – the gardening group continue maintenance of the hospital gardens – with their physical presence at our hospital reminding senior executives and staff that the community remains vigilant and committed.  Fenella to report on this later
  • Barbara’s Garden dedication – a morning tea was held to commemorate the installation of a plaque dedicated to Barbara Moore, which is being fastidiously cared for by the gardening group. 
    Note: Photos and information can be found by following this link: Barbara’s Garden Dedication
  • Fundraising – I would like to thank the businesses around Bellingen and Urunga for allowing our tins, which have raised an excellent amount over the years.  Also the Randall Family of Bellingen Cellars for their continued support.  The total amount of funds raised from tins and donations for FY2022 was $1,880.45.
  • Meetings with MNCLHD – BHAG will continue to meet with the MNCLH to discuss various hospital issues – for example incorrect capital investment figures being quoted which included the community’s contributions as part of their claimed investment figures.

If a critical situation were to occur such as a loss of services or a change in the delivery of core services that one would expect at a local public hospital we would immediately act and confidently call upon our amazing community to rally to the cause.

On behalf of the incoming committee, I would like to say ‘Thank You’ to the amazing community for your on-going support.  Your generous donations and acknowledgment of the committee’s work encourages us to continue in what may appear to be a stable and safe situation – though we remain the ever-vigilant sceptic. We continue to represent your voice at all levels of Government and at the senior level of management of the Mid North Coast Local Health District and locally at Bellingen Hospital.

Please contact us if you have any concerns about the service or future of
our Bellingen Hospital as we are your voice – loud and clear.

Pauline Murphy – President

BHAG 2022 AGM – Presidents Report
BHAG 2022 Balance Sheet
BHAG 2022 Profit & Loss
MINUTES OF BHAG AGM 25 July 2022

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BHAG 2022 AGM – Monday 25th July, 2022

To nominate for a position on the BHAG Committee:

  1. Download the fillable pdf Nomination Form below.
  2. Complete the blue acceptance section of the Nomination Form.
  3. Forward it to the BHAG Secretary by 18 July 2022, either by post to – PO Box 120, Bellingen NSW 2454 or email to bellohospitalrescue@gmail.com
  4. We will be in contact with you within 24 hours of receipt.

2022 BHAG AGM Nomination Form for Office Bearer

Don’t want to join the committee but want to help in some other way?

Perhaps you are a Facebook or Instagram whizz, you’d like to make a donation, you would like become a gardening volunteer, or you’d just like to be contacted to help out if the hospital comes under threat again. Email us at bellohospitalrescue@gmail.com.

BHAG 2021 AGM Minutes & Financials …

The committee pays tribute to Barbara Moore who guided BHAG for the past ten years and without whom, the Wellness Garden would not exist.

The 2021 AGM was held on 12th July 2021 at St Andrews Uniting Church Hall, Bellingen.

We would like to thank and extend a warm welcome to the members of the 2021/2022 Committee:

President: Pauline Murphy
Vice President: Fenella Briscomb
Secretary: Fenella Briscomb
Treasurer: John Conway
Returning Committee Members: Charlotte Blesing & Marlene Howes
New Committee Members: Anna Strek & Janette Lovell.
Consultant VMO: Doctor Derek Bell
Public Officer: Fenella Briscomb

A special welcome to the two new committee members – Anna Strek and Janette Lovell.

Please click on the links below to read the relevant AGM documents:

MINUTES OF BHAG AGM 12 July 2021
BHAG Balance Sheet FY 2021
BHAG Profit & Loss FY 2021

BHAG 2021 AGM – Monday 12th July, 2021

BHAG AGM Advertisement 2021 website

To nominate for a position on the BHAG Committee:

  1. Download the fillable pdf Nomination Form below.
  2. Obtain written nominations from two current committee members.
  3. Complete the acceptance section of the Nomination Form.
  4. Forward it to the BHAG Secretary, PO Box 120, Bellingen NSW 2454, email to bellohospitalrescue@gmail.com or bring to the AGM on 12 July, 2021

2021 BHAG AGM Nomination Form for Office Bearer

Let’s keep up the pressure!

Meeting at St Andrews HallThe community meeting at St. Andrew’s Hall on 03 June was a great success with around 40 people attending. 

Several weeks ago Dr Andrew Heslop released details of the VMO issue to the public and the media via Facebook and various other media platforms.  The good news is that the resulting social media storm appears to have pressured the MNCLHD into engaging more co-operatively with the VMOs.  

The MNCLHD has now agreed to flexible contracts, is meeting with local doctors who have expressed interest in working at the hospital, and is in discussion with the Agency for Clinical Innovation  who’s stated mission is to “bring patients, clinicians and managers together to support the design and implementation of innovation in health care”

There was another VMO meeting last Wednesday and the first of a series of planned get togethers with prospective VMOs that evening.  Dr. Heslop hopes to have positive news for us within a couple of weeks. 

13 meeting attendees volunteered to be on standby in case the MNCLHD does not resolve the VMO shortage situation satisfactorily and the community needs to take further action via the media, and by writing to our elected representatives.  

This is all progress in the right direction.  However, this does not mean that the proposal to close the ED after hours has been withdrawn, and we need to keep up the pressure.

In the meantime, you can still sign the Getup petition by following this link:
Getup Petition

Let’s keep up the pressure!