It’s not every day that the carpets of Government House are used as a play mat for toddlers. But Friday was no ordinary day.
Governor Linda Dessau, who is the hospital’s patron, welcomed 160 mothers and their babies to the historic residence for a special morning tea to mark the 160th anniversary of the Royal Women’s Hospital.
The women had all recently given birth at the Royal Women’s.
On the eve of Mother’s Day weekend the Governor said she was delighted to see so many babies enjoying the beautiful surrounds of Government House.
“I am definitely the only Governor of the State to have given birth to two children [at the Royal Women’s].”
Hospital chair Lyn Swinburne said: “We know that our communities are growing and changing and that demand for the Women’s services will continue to increase.
“One thing that has remained constant is that the Women’s really looks after women and thinks about what their needs are.”
Ms Swinburne said the Women’s was a world leader in research and neonatal care and every year provided more than 200,000 episodes of care for women from 165 countries, who speak 60 different languages.
The Royal Women’s is Australia’s first and largest specialist hospital for women and newborns.