Victorian governor Linda Dessau celebrated International Women’s Day last week greeting new mums at Sunshine Hospital maternity ward.
Ms Dessau, the first female governor of Victoria, met staff and patients, shared a laugh with first-time mums and a family welcoming their seventh child into the world.
Ms Dessau spent an hour at the hospital, which has the third largest maternity ward in the state, saying it felt fantastic to share a special day with so many new mothers.
“It was wonderful to see this hospital, which is thriving in the western part of Melbourne,” Ms Dessau said. “I especially wanted to spend International Women’s Day with mothers and babies, because it is deeply symbolic.
“Here is where they are looking after women, supporting women and growing the families and the little women of the future.
“Today resonates with me very particularly, and I try to go see girls in schools and encourage girls to study science, see women in big professional groups like Victoria Police, and of course, to meet mothers who are often raising the children at home.”
With the new Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital being built next door, the hospital’s chief executive associate professor Alex Cockram said it was fantastic to show the governor the hospital as its works currently, as well as what the future holds.
“It’s a pretty exciting time for us here at Western Health, and particularly at Sunshine Hospital,” Professor Cockram said.
“The Joan Kirner hospital is still two years away, but we are all very excited for what that will mean for the west and for women in this area.”
