HAC presiding member resigns

RESIGNATION: The Mount Gambier and District Health Advisory Council presiding member Maureen Klintberg has handed in her resignation with 'mixed emotions'.

Charlotte Varcoe

MIXED emotions were felt at the Mount Gambier and District Hospital Advisory Council annual general meeting last week following the resignation of presiding member Maureen Klintberg.

Ms Klintberg first joined the council four years ago where she soon took on the top position, overseeing a number of events and milestones within the health sector.

The passionate residents oversaw the popular Bollywood ball which raised funds for the local renal dialysis unit, the superhero campaign and the Full Monty fundraiser.

Speaking about her time as presiding member, Ms Klintberg said she was proud of its efforts across the years.

“Over the four years, we have also allocated $97,000 to identified needs within the health service through the council’s gift fund trust and also facilitated a series of community health forums,” Ms Klintberg said.

“These forums included kidney health, bowel cancer awareness, diabetes and palliative care.”

She said the council also initiated and worked collaboratively with the Mount Gambier Private Hospital to apply for funding from the Department of Health and Wellbeing SA Palliative Care 2020 grant to establish the thriving In Home Hospice Care service.

“I had mixed emotions about resigning but decided it was time to allow new enthusiasm and fresh ideas to take over as the presiding member,” she said.

“I noted the achievements of the council across the four years and decided I would now pursue my passion to further build our palliative care and hospice facilities and care within the community.

“Resigning was in the best interest of moving forward for both myself and the council and I did so at this year’s annual meeting which allowed the new and incoming council and members to start the new year fresh.”

Ms Klintberg said upon reflection, she felt rewarded for her efforts and highly valued the relationships built both in the wider community and health services.

“These relationships enabled such achievements to be noted each year that I served as presiding member,” she said.

“Moving forward, I will not retire to an armchair but will instead focus on palliative care and hospice care and will remain committed to working with the health service.

“I will also continue to work with the excellent patient and family care services available but particularly in end of life and palliative care.”

Ms Klintberg said she believed the achievements of the council indicated the important role health advisory council’s played within the community and said it was an important role for the benefit of health outcomes for the Limestone Coast.

Alongside Ms Klintberg, council member Tony Duddy also resigned leaving four vacant positions on the council.