From cake and candy floss to choirs, Elvis impersonations, baby reunions and surprise celebrity visits, Tweed Valley Hospital’s first birthday celebrations will be remembered for some time to come.
Designed to bring staff, patients and community members together, the week-long, carnival-like festivities began on Monday 12 March with the hospital’s annual Nurse and Midwifery Awards.
Supported by sponsors Summerland Bank, the awards drew a surprise visit from local social media sensation Celeste Barber, whose sister is a nurse at the hospital.
Official proceedings took place on Wednesday 14 May, kicking off outside the Aboriginal Health Bugalwena Building, with the unveiling of a memorial plaque in honour of much-loved Aunty Virginia Apanui, while community rooms inside the building were named in honour of her sister, Aunty Sue Follent.
A community barbecue, hosted by our dedicated Tweed Valley Hospital Auxiliary volunteers, saw lines of staff queuing up outside the main entry to get their sausage sanger.
But it was arguably the very cute Wilder Bloom Espie who stole the show. The first baby born at the new hospital, Wilder celebrated his first birthday back where it all began, helping his older sisters perform the ceremonial cutting of the cake. An emotional reunion ensued with Wilder’s parents, Jo and Martin Espie, and their midwives.
Tweed Valley Hospital’s admirable statistics further impressed guests, transforming the delivery of healthcare in the region with a record number of patients treated during the year.
In the 12 months (to 30 April 2025), the new Tweed Valley Hospital has:
- welcomed 1,082 new babies
- hired an additional 330 staff, including doctors, nurses and support personnel
- provided care to 56,406 people who presented to the Emergency Department
- admitted more than 33,751 patients for care
- performed 3,611 emergency surgeries and 6,787 planned surgeries, totalling 10,398 surgeries
- established cardiology and radiation oncology units, which have treated more than 1,300 patients who would previously have had to travel.
Acting General Manager Adam Reid thanked all staff and volunteers who had contributed to the hospital’s success.
“The overwhelming feedback we receive from staff and patients is how friendly and welcoming a place it is to work and stay, and I thank everyone for contributing to this,” Adam said.
“To open the new hospital, 330 full-time equivalent staff were hired, our nurse vacancy rate is now below 4 per cent and the junior medical workforce is fully recruited too: an outstanding achievement in the current environment.
“We have also seen a significant rise in support from the community, with our Healthcare Helper Volunteer program fully subscribed, while our Tweed Valley Hospital Auxiliary volunteers continue to do so much to help with the day-to-day running of the hospital.
“Thank you to everyone for everything you do to ensure we continue to deliver world-class care to our patients.”
A community barbecue hosted by the TVH Auxiliary was gratefully received by staff.
The Espie family, whose son Wilder Bloom was the first baby born at the new Tweed Valley Hospital, helped celebrate the first anniversary with their midwives: Rebecca, Nicole and Michelle.
Pictured top:
The Pottsville Hastings Point community choir sang beautifully in the main foyer.