It's time to say thanks to those who have helped keep Ballarat COVID-safe
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As each day brings lower numbers and a hope to return to life as COVID-normal, it is worth reflecting on those who have never stopped working and played their part to keep Ballarat free from the worst of the pandemic.
Friday will mark a special day to say 'thanks', and first in line deserving our praise are the healthcare workers who, in all their myriad roles, have played a key part.
The Courier and our community salute you.
Look out for the stories of Ballarat's healthcare workers at thecourier.com.au over the coming days
The drab roundabout on Drummond and Mair streets in the heart of the city's hospital precinct is set to be transformed in to a permanent celebration to say thank you to all of Ballarat's health care workers and the work they have done to shore up the city's safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The project, proposed by colorectal surgeon Carolyn Vasey, will see flower beds beautify the centre of the roundabout and, according to Ballarat Health Services chief executive Dale Fraser, "turn an otherwise pretty drab space in to a beacon in the middle of the health precinct".
The proposal has the support of BHS, St John of God Hospital, University of Melbourne, Committee for Ballarat and City of Ballarat and work is expected to start in the coming months.
"We've got the designs and are just working on the exact timing of things, but everything is lined up ready to go," Mr Fraser said.
Mr Fraser said all of Ballarat's health workers - from those conducting swabs at the UFS, Ballarat Community Health and BHS COVID testing sites to hospital staff, cooks, cleaners, security guards and allied health workers - should be commended for helping keep COVID under control in the region.
I just want to thank our community, our staff, our various partners ... everyone who has played a role in responding to this demand. I'd love to say this is over but we are still going. We are on the tail of it and let's hope it stays that way and we can hopefully get back to a COVID-normal Christmas.
- Dale Fraser
And he gave special thanks to the community for their part in doing the right thing, getting tested and following the restrictions.
"When all this started the only thing we had to go by was what we had seen in Spain, Italy and the US and we didn't really know what was coming. We prepared for the worst and thankfully that didn't occur," he said.
"The community response, and being responsible for the asymptomatic testing in early March, allowed us more confidence to know what was out there in the community."
To date there have been 42,564 COVID tests at UFS, Ballarat Community Health and BHS testing sites with about 80 to 100 tests a day currently being completed at Lucas.
LEAVE YOUR THANKS TO OUR COVID HEROES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ARTICLE
Mr Fraser said the 'Thank You Day' public holiday was an opportunity for the community to pat each other on the back for their perseverance and resilience in the face of home schooling of children, separation from loved ones, food and toilet paper shortages in the early days of the pandemic, and the other challenges of life under restrictions.
MORE THANK YOU STORIES
- Thank you day: Roundabout to be transformed to commemorate Ballarat's COVID healthcare workers
- Thank you day: Meet the head of Ballarat's COVID contact tracing team
- Thank you day: Why Ballarat's hospital chefs cooked 50,000 extra emergency meals during the pandemic
- Thank you day: BHS security guard Ali Raza goes from mechanic to security guard
- Thank you day: occupational therapists had to jump in to deliver patient meals and help daily care during COVID
"It has been galvanising for us as community. We have come together, seen it off but it will come back and we are even better prepared than we were last time."
"I just want to thank our community, our staff, our various partners ... everyone who has played a role in responding to this demand.
"I'd love to say this is over but we are still going. We are on the tail of it and let's hope it stays that way and we can hopefully get back to a COVID-normal Christmas."
LEAVE YOUR THANKS TO OUR COVID HEROES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ARTICLE
