Well done John
AFTER 13 years on the Noosa Hospital Community Board of Advice, esteemed chairman John Crossley is retiring.
He believes at his age it's time to move on and let someone else move in.
How hard it will be to find someone to move in was acknowledged at his final board meeting and the dinner that followed, by fellow board members last week.
"The board has been as effective as it has been because of you," Erle Bailey said.
Noosa Hospital CEO Ollie Steele said the hospital was "eternally grateful and indebted" to Mr Crossley for his services.
In 1999 Mr Crossley, who was then running his own accountancy firm, joined with Liz Aspinall, Peter Skelton (both of whom were part of the group of main agitators for the building of the hospital in Noosa), June Colley, Rusty Fraser, John Meyer, Robin Rulli and members of the hospital executive to form the first Community Board of Advice.
At the first board meeting held at Ricky Ricardo's restaurant on June 16, John Crossley was appointed chairman. The next meeting was held at the Sheraton Hotel.
"At that meeting we were particularly interested in the amount of funding to be provided by Queensland Health to treat public patients and to provide for treatment in the accident emergency department," he recalled.
A public open day was held in August, 1999, with an estimated 5000 people inspecting the facilities.
Since then the board has been party to building renovations and additions, carpark constructions and is ever mindful of ensuring the Queensland Health budget funds meet the growing need of public patients' elective surgical needs.
In a volunteer capacity, Mr Crossley has spent hours at the negotiating table seeking adequate funding from politicians and bureaucrats for public patients and provided invaluable leadership to board members.
NOOSA HOSPITAL
- Noosa Hospital is the only BOOT (Build Own Operate Transfer) Hospital in Queensland. The hospital is privately owned by Ramsey Health and has a contract with Queensland Health to provide some public health services to the people of Noosa.
