Ballarat Base Hospital cranes to honour locals

[Images: Josie Ashmore, Retired Grampians Health nurse talks to camera; footage of Josie viewing the hospital construction site]

Josie Ashmore: My name's Josie Ashmore, and I've been around Ballarat for a long time. I feel very honored, that I've been nominated to have a crane named after me. I don't feel like I deserve it, but I do feel very honored.

[Images: Leanne Shea, Chief Nursing & Midwifery Officer, Grampians Health talks to camera; footage of one of Josie's handmade bags]

Leanne Shea: Josie worked for us for over 32 years, and in her retirement she's continued to support community members by sewing and making and creating lovely bags used to cover up people's external stoma bags.

[Images: Josie Ashmore, Retired Grampians Health nurse talks to camera; footage of Josie walking through the hospital]

Josie Ashmore: So they can walk around the ward, go down for a coffee if they're that well. I think I've probably made about 2000 over the years. About 10 or 12 years ago, I had some major abdominal surgery myself, my way of quietly, giving back to the wound care team for all the help they gave me. Well, I mean, I know I went through a rough run and I can imagine what a lot of people go through as well.

[Images: A partnership screen with a white background displays the text 'In partnership with' and the 'Grampians Health' and 'Built' logos]

[Images: A sliding transition screen then displays the Victorian Health Building Authority and Victoria State Government logos and the url vhba.vic.gov.au]

[End of transcript]

Josie is a retired nurse who started her career in Ballarat in 1969. Across 35 years, Josie held nursing, management and educator roles at Ballarat Base Hospital.

Ten years ago, Josie had to undergo major abdominal surgery including stoma formation and reversal and an extended recovery. Josie saw how fabric cover bags for patients with visible draining tubes gave them a sense of dignity and comfort after surgery. And so, she started handmaking these bags for other patients. A decade on, Josie has generously made and donated an estimated 2,000 fabric bags.

Wasek is a medical oncologist and oncology research lead at Grampians Health who has established himself as a leading figure in lung cancer clinical research and patient care.

Wasek is passionate about driving cutting-edge cancer research and treatment in regional areas and this is part of the reason Wasek and his family moved to Ballarat, from Sydney.

Since 2017, Wasek has led a team of thoracic oncology clinicians at Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre (BRICC). He’s been at the forefront of clinical trials at Grampians Health, serving as principal investigator in numerous lung cancer trials, bringing advanced therapeutics, including novel immunotherapy and cancer vaccines to local patients.

Wasek has received national and international recognition for his commitment to advancing cancer treatment and dedication to improving patient outcomes.

Siblings Ashton and Grant share a story of unimaginable hardship but extraordinary resilience, courage and compassion. As children, their mother's life was tragically taken by their violent father. They represent strength and courage and serve as a reminder of what it means to keep moving forward, together.

Grant

Grant is a switchboard operator at Grampians Health. He is also a Kidney Health Australia ambassador. Grant has faced a lifelong battle with kidney disease and multiple failed kidney transplants. For nearly 20 years, Grant has spent 15 hours a week on dialysis.

Grant channels his experiences into advocacy, raising awareness and support for others with chronic illness.

Ashton

Ashton is an Undergraduate Clinical Placement Coordinator with Grampians Health’s Nursing and Midwifery Education Unit. He’s also an at home nurse where he supports patients to receive care in the comfort of their own home.

Ashton, who once administered daily dialysis to Grant as a teen, has gone on to care for others through his career, and through his advocacy for victims of family violence through the Alannah & Madeline Foundation.