Linsey steps down as EHI chair

AFTER three busy years as chair of Euroa Health, Linsey Siede has stepped down to focus on his own health and his family. Born at the Euroa Hospital, Linsey joined the board of Euroa Health in 2020 as a representative for the residents of GraniteHill, when his mother Betty was a resident there. His sister Jill was also born there and his father Cyril passed away at the Euroa Hospital in 2009, so it was a special place for Linsey. At the AGM in 2022, he was elected chair, and so began a three-year period of almost non-stop activity. The highest priority was to stop the financial losses at the hospital, which had been ongoing and increasing annually for the past 10 years. As a Bush Nursing Hospital, the State Government classified it as “private” and hence ineligible for government funding. After completing a comprehensive study using 2021 census data and 2022 ABS data, and then focusing in on the 472 locations with more than 3,000 people, Linsey identified that Euroa was number four on the list of 472 with the greatest percentage of their population over 85 years old. Not only were many local farmers retiring and moving to Euroa, but so too were people from Melbourne. Any way you looked at the data, Euroa and the Strathbogie Shire had one of the highest needs of anywhere in Victoria for ongoing and increasing hospital and aged care services and facilities. Linsey began a campaign for government funding to prevent the hospital from closing. Timing was critical, and there was a lot of activity and lobbying in the lead-up to the state election. Fast forward three years and as of August 12, 2024, the residents of Euroa and the Strathbogie Shire have a public hospital funded by the State Government. This was not the outcome that the EHI board planned, but it is an outstanding one, and a huge step forward for the community. Giving the EHI hospital building valued at $8 million to the state was a decision not taken lightly, and was unanimously approved by EHI members. While Linsey was chair, he was fortunate to work with CEO Cherree Hunter, and from April 2023 with CEO Melissa Seymour. Both are incredible people, and EHI has been blessed to have them as CEOs. They have both dedicated many hours to the betterment of EHI and the community, particularly in the transfer of the hospital from EHI to GV Health. A key long-term strategy for EHI is to build a comprehensive healthcare precinct at the Kennedy and Weir Street location. As well as EHI selling Ambulance Victoria the land for their new ambulance station next to the hospital, demolition of the old Euroaville building was also negotiated as part of the arrangement. This will offer opportunities for further developments. During Linsey’s time as chair, some of the other highlights at EHI have been: • Re-opening radiology (x-ray and ultrasound); • Obtaining funding and installing of a new roof on the hospital; • Opening a new 10-bed memory support unit, and increasing the total number of aged care rooms; and • Increasing the EHI net assets (total equity) from $24 million to more than $59 million. Linsey would sincerely like to thank the people he has worked with over the past three years, including the board of directors; the executive team; the teams of nursing, administration, catering, gardening and cleaning staff; and the many volunteers and EHI members. “At the end of my life if I am only remembered by the local community for one thing, and that is bringing a public hospital to Euroa, I will be a happy camper,” Linsey said.

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