Mossman’s Multi-Purpose Health service celebrated its 85th birthday today, first opening it’s doors in 1930 as the Mossman District Hospital.

Director of Nursing and facility manager Peter LeGriffon and his team hosted a celebration to mark the event today with a string of special guests including past and present staff members, local historians and community members.

Some very special guest also invited were the first children to be born at the hospital. In 1930 the first child and first male baby born was Ronald Kiley, who has since passed.  Other’s in attendance were Bill Cowell of Mossman who was the second child and second male baby, Jessie Palmer of Mareeba was the third child and first female baby and John Fasano of Mossman was the fourth child and third male baby all born at the hospital.

Distinguished former Matron Mrs May Smith who was the director of nursing from 1972 to 2001, also completed her nursing training in 1950 at the hospital.

Peter LeGriffon said that “the original hospital was to be a timber and galvinised iron hospital designed to provided good ventilation light and sanitation.  However the hospital board of the day sent the plans to an architect in Cairns who added the concrete Spanish Mission style architecture which is so evident today.  So thanks to their foresight, we have the only pavilion planned public hospital constructed with a Spanish Mission exterior in Queensland and possibly all of Australia. So we’re unique and it remains a beautiful hospital today,” he said.

While the hospital is an evolving health care system, the mainstay has always been the dedicated staff and community support which was a driving factor in establishing the hospital in Mossman. And the community has always supported Mossman hospital.  About 15 years ago due to community pressure and a dedicated team of local Mossman hospital staff and community, it became a multi-purpose health service.  A multi-purpose health service provides health services that are flexible coordinated and cost effective in delivering acute community aged and preventative healthcare.

For the next 85 years Mr LeGriffon hopes to see increased acute services, a maternity ward and operating theatre and more equipment and further remodeling.  For the meantime though he and his dedicated team are more focused on maintaining a regional hospital in a local community that provides good, professional emergency and community based healthcare.