Established in 1924 as the
proudly serving Brimbank and the North West
4 JUNE, 2024
(Damjan Janevski) 410412_04
More room for learning
School captains Edison and Emma outside the new school building with deputy principal Ane-Marie Conte, and principal Michael Bonnici.
Holy Eucharist Primary School in St Albans celebrated the opening of its new $4.7 million building on May 30. Principal Michael Bonnici initiated the project back in January 2021, reaching out to St Albans MP Natalie Suleyman and then Education Minister James Merlino for support in securing funding. “Our enrolments have grown from 372 students in 2015 to 565 students and 75 staff in 2024,“ Mr Bonnici said. In 2021, Ms Suleyman called to announce that the school had successfully secured a $2 million grant. The school itself contributed an additional $2.7 million to fund the construction of a building featuring eight new classrooms. The new building also features maker spaces, a teacher planning room, a new toilet block, PE storage room, and a learning deck. The official opening was attended by Ms Suleyman and Melbourne’s Auxiliary Bishop, Martin Ashe. “We want our students to embrace the classrooms as their own where they are able to challenge themselves and grow as leaders for tomorrow. My vision is that all staff can use these rooms to attend to all the students’ learning needs and to achieve the best learning outcomes,” Mr Bonnici said.
Shock hospital closure By Hannah Hammoud Less than 15 months after the multi-million dollar Sunshine Private Hospital was officially unveiled, the hospital is now closed and has entered into voluntary administration. ABC Radio Melbourne reported on May 28, that the Sunshine Private Hospital was cancelling surgeries and relocating patients as it was placed into voluntary administration. Health Worker Union (HWU) spokesperson Jake Mcguinness said it was disappointing that staff were given “such little notice” of the hospital’s closure. “It’s very dissapointng that workers were only given a very short timeframe to make themselves aware of it,” he said.
Mr Mcguiness said the Sunshine Private Hospital was a project that was “a little overambitious” and was potentially delivered earlier than the demand for it was established. “It is a state-of-the-art facility that cost $140 million to build. It’s in an area of Melbourne that is growing massively and is projected to grow massively over the next decade – I’m sure the site will be put to good use.” Sunshine Private Hospital’s facilities included four operating theatres, an endoscopy suite a 30-bed medical and surgical ward including four high dependency beds, 24 day surgery beds, a 21-bed women’s mental health inpatient unit, consulting suites and sleep study facilities. A glittering opening event held in March last
year was attended by high profile personalities which included former AFL footballer Bachar Houli, then Brimbank mayor Bruce Lancashire, hospital chief executive Dr Malak Sukkar and St Albans MP Natalie Suleyman. Speaking during the opening ceremony Ms Suleyman said the hospital services were not limited to Sunshine residents only, but extended to everyone living in Victoria. “While the hospital is at the door steps of Sunshine residents, but other people from different parts of Melbourne will benefit from the services,” she said at the time. EY Australia has taken on the receivership of the Sunshine Private Hospital following what it has described as a “challenging period for the hospital’s operator” and the appointment
of Andrew McCabe and Chris Johnson from Wexted Advisors as voluntary administrators on May 27. EY Australia said the receivers’ primary objective is to work with the landlord to identify a new operator for the Sunshine Private Hospital to secure its long-term future as part of the Sunshine Private Health Hub. “The receivers’ appointment only extends to the Sunshine Private Hospital and not to the Sunshine Private Health Hub generally. There are other tenants operating from the Sunshine Private Health Hub and those businesses are continuing to provide valuable services to the community,” EY Australia said. “The receivers are committed to transparent communication with all parties throughout the receivership process.”
ONE STOP SHOPPING CENTRE FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY Our friendly centre has convenient parking and food for all tastes. A Bakery, Fresh Seafood, Butchery, a Continental deli and Indian Supermarket. Takeaway Fish and Chips, Pizza, Charcoal Chicken and Kebabs Cafe. Chemist and Medical centre and a large Woolworth Supermarket.
Cnr Taylor’s Road, Calder Park Drive, Taylor’s Hill 12652516-ET23-24