27 March 2025

Today we gathered at the Remembrance Garden at the Repat to celebrate a significant milestone – the 30 year anniversary of the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital amalgamating with Austin Hospital!

The Repat was once known as 115th Heidelberg Military Hospital, then as Repatriation General Hospital, before becoming the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital that we know today.

With the sun shining overhead, Robert Winther, Veterans Liaison Officer, opened the ceremony, sharing, “As I stand in the Remembrance Garden today a quote carved into a tree by a British soldier comes to mind. It goes,

‘Remember those who served,
those who returned,
those who were prisoners.
When you go home, tell them of us and say,
we gave our tomorrow for your today.’

This quote and all the work we do here at the Repat has shaped today’s event and brought about the theme, ‘We Remember Them’. And we do remember them, not just today but every day.”

Many of you will already know about the original role the Repat played in caring for soldiers and others returning from World War II, including war widows and prisoners of war.

Jodie Geissler, Chief Executive Officer, spoke at the event, sharing, “I’m delighted to be here today and very lucky that this wonderful event was scheduled on my fourth day in the CEO role. Thanks, all of you, for your role in ensuring that patients and visitors have a great experience at the Repat. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a strong link to our history.

I especially thank Robert Winther for his exceptional work in ensuring that we never lose sight of our history and our communities, and for ensuring that all those wonderful people, stories and mementoes are preserved. I look forward to the work we will do together.”

At the event today we also unveiled 12 plaques with names of the Victoria Cross recipients which will now adorn the walls of the Repat. 

Over the past 84 years, the services provided at the Repat have continued to evolve and community programs such as the Hospital in the Home, Health Independence Programs, Aged Care, Outpatient Rehab Centre, and Mental Health are all crucial in helping us meet the needs of the community we serve today. In 2024 alone, The Surgery Centre (TSC) treated 12,319 patients and our Specialist Clinics managed over 315,000 outpatient clinic attendances and processed 120,000 new referrals.

We continue to maintain strong links to Repat’s origins through the care provided to returned defence personnel and now emergency services men and women though Ward 17 and other areas, and through our ongoing relationship with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the veteran community. These have been instrumental in shaping the Repat and we are grateful for their ongoing support.

The Repat is more than just a hospital, it is a very special place with a host of memories. The Repat continues to evolve through a sense of care, compassion and community.

This anniversary is also a testament to the dedication of our staff, past and present, who have worked tirelessly to provide outstanding care. Thank you to each of you for being part of this journey, and for your hard work and dedication.

Here’s to many more years to come! ❤