Rockingham General Hospital has been open for more than five decades this year.
RGH opened on May 28, 1976, as the Rockingham-Kwinana District Hospital to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population.
Since then the hospital has been providing care close to home for those in need during births, emergencies, recovery, and end-of-life care.
Moya Parker has been at the hospital since the beginning and there’s hardly a role she hasn’t worked in, including clerk, switchboard operator, courier, payroll officer and now RoStar officer.
“Our first week we ran tours of the hospital for the general public,” Ms Parker said.
“Having our own hospital after so many years of going to Fremantle Hospital was wonderful and there was much buzz in the community.”
Ms Parker even met her husband, a paramedic, while working at the hospital.
“I have and still love working here; I have made lifelong friends and celebrated all my major life milestones … and still continue to meet new friends,” she said.
“Each morning as I drive here it is with a smile on my face.
“There are too many highlights to mention, as you can imagine in 50 years.
“I have celebrated the good times and been comforted in the sad times both for myself and for others within the hospital, hence it feels like family.”
Ms Parker said when she first started staff would wait for patients in casualty and listen for cars approaching.
This would be impossible now — in the 2024-25 financial year the emergency department treated 61,470 patients, including about 14,000 children.
The hospital also had more than 160,000 outpatient appointments, with more than 42,000 delivered by telehealth or telephone.
Its surgical teams performed 6147 elective and 1525 emergency surgeries, intensive care teams treated 762 patients and 1449 babies were born at Rockingham General Hospital, including eight sets of twins.
One doctor at the hospital added to this number and got into the birthday vibes when his daughter was born on the same day as the hospital’s 50th anniversary.
Baby Eleanora was born to the hospital’s medical co-director Dominik Stepien and his wife Thi.
Dr Stepien and his wife even gave a nod to the hospital with their daughter’s name. RGH is on Elanora Drive.
Dr Stepien is one of 2000 staff employed at the hospital, including many long-serving team members with 20, 30, 40 and even 50 years of service.
The Rockingham General Hospital Auxiliary is also celebrating 50 years.
Its volunteers help with fundraising to support patients, families and services across the community.
Health Minister Meredith Hammat visited the hospital and helped cut the cake during the celebration.
“This milestone recognises the dedication of generations of staff and volunteers who have built a hospital that is trusted by its community,” Ms Hammat said.
“We are committed to ensuring the hospital continues to deliver safe, high-quality care closer to home for the Rockingham and Kwinana communities.
“For 50 years, this hospital has been at the heart of the Rockingham community, and it will continue to be for many years to come.”
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