'Hands Off' group meets

More than 75 concerned local residents attended a rally at Woy Woy Hospital on December 14, to continue the fight to save the hospital's rehabilitation unit.

Rally organiser Mr Edward James said the group had organised a website entitled Hands Off Our Woy Woy Hospital to object to the recent closure of a 15-bed rehabilitation unit at the local hospital on December 2.

"The website is the hub of our community's important fight to keep and expand the Woy Woy Hospital," Mr James said.

"The hospital is an important part of our community which grew from the efforts of members of the Woman's Auxiliary which started in 1959, and blossomed with others like the Osti girls from the garment factory in Railway Pde, Woy Woy.

"Ladies started selling raffle tickets with the proceeds going toward the establishment of our own local Woy Woy Hospital.

"The elderly people who toiled raising the necessary funds to build Woy Woy Hospital into an important community asset cannot understand and will not accept what is being thrust upon them by the government.

The Hands Off Our Woy Woy Hospital website can be viewed at http://woywoyrehab.org/

A community meeting was also held at the Peninsula Community Centre on December 19, organised by Shadow Minister for the Central Coast Mr Chris Hartcher.

Press release, 16 Dec 2008 Edward James, Hands Off Our Woy Woy Hospital