The Goulburn Hospital and Health Service Redevelopment project team, together with the Goulburn Rose Society and Goulburn High School, have begun to relocate the hospital's historic roses ahead of work to progress the $165 million hospital redevelopment.
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Southern NSW Local Health District's (SNSWLHD) Tablelands general manager Brian Bonham said the project team has engaged the expertise of the Goulburn Rose Society to lend their assistance to catalogue, take cuttings and replant roses within the hospital grounds, which have been an historical landmark for the health service for over 25 years.
"It is incredibly important that we continue to honour the memories associated with each of the roses," Mr Bonham said.
"Many were planted in honour of people, including the 16-year-old Adele Smith, whose tragic death in 1998 rocked the Goulburn community.
"A hybrid tea bush rose was planted in Adele's memory as part of a garden established near the maternity unit.
"We were very privileged to welcome Adele's parents Alan Smith and Mary Dempsey to the relocation working bee.
"Mr Smith helped with the replanting, with Ms Dempsey electing to take Adele's memorial rose home to her garden.
"A new white rose will be planted in honour of their daughter.
"It's imperative that this history is preserved and we're thrilled the Goulburn Rose Society has extended their generosity, knowledge and expertise to assist the redevelopment team with this special project."
Health Infrastructure Senior Project Director Deirdre Barnes said retaining the roses has always been a key element in the landscaping for the redevelopment.
"It is great to see the work underway, and we've been very fortunate to have involvement from Goulburn High School students through the Year 9 High Aspirations Program (HAP) to assist us as we work to ensure these beautiful blooms live on as part of new redevelopment," Ms Barnes said.
The HAP program aims to encourage students to think more critically about their career goals.
Students are working with the project team in their chosen area of interest including future healthcare, construction, interior design, mural design, communications and landscaping.
The relocation working bee provided students with the opportunity to learn directly from three experienced landscapers.
As part of this latest opportunity, three landscapers shared their career and work experience with the students as they assisted on the day.
The roses have been replanted onsite in the front semi-circle garden, and will remain a key feature of Goulburn Base Hospital, complementing the hospital garden's design.
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