THANKS to the generosity of the Barbara Beach bequest Mansfield District Hospital has renovated and installed a new X-ray system for the community of Mansfield.

Barbara (19/11/40 – 18/2/23) grew up in Melbourne and spent many years supporting hospital charities in a number of places.

She was noted for beautiful knitted goods, crochet and needlework, all of which she donated to the various institutions.

She also provided hand crafted goods to the CWA.

In 1981 she received an Honorary Life Governor award from the Royal Children’s Hospital for the years of support she had given to them.

Barbara also received a five-year service acknowledgment from Moorabbin Hospital and a 25-year service award from Maroondah Hospital.

In 2011 Barbara moved to Mansfield and continued to knit goods for hospital charities.

In her later years, Barbara suffered several severe medical issues and was grateful for the special care she received from Mansfield District Hospital.

It was her desire to donate this significant bequest to the hospital for a worthwhile project in her name.

The new X-ray system definitely meets this requirement.

This system replaced the old X-ray system which was to be decommissioned by the Department of Health later this year.

This would have meant that local people would have to travel elsewhere for X-rays.

Disappointingly, funding submissions to replace the system were not successful.

Once again, the generous support of local people has enabled the hospital to continue to meet the needs of the local community.

The new system is the latest technology from Philips and further enhances diagnostic imaging capabilities on site at Mansfield District Hospital for the benefit of the community.