Cranes crowned new names at The Children's Hospital at Westmead
Young ones and the young at heart have celebrated a competition at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead (CHW) to name three tower cranes which are supporting the delivery of the Stage 2 redevelopment project.
The two tower cranes on site of the new Paediatric Services Building have been named ‘Skye Lifter’ and ‘Friendship’, while the crane on the multi storey car park site has been named ‘Pixie’.
The competition invited CHW patients, families, staff, volunteers and school students from the local community to suggest crane names which were judged by a panel of representatives from the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, Health Infrastructure, and from contractors Roberts Co and Kane Constructions.
The winning names, which are displayed on the cranes, were submitted by local school student Hanshika, and Vedanth an outpatient of the hospital, and long standing CHW volunteer Margaret Playle.
Margaret has served as a volunteer for over 25 years and thanked her seven grandchildren who assisted her in producing the crane name, ‘Skye Lifter’.
In addition to having their crane name displayed on site, the winners were awarded a gift voucher and invited to CHW for a tour of the Paediatric Services Building construction site.
It was very exciting to walk around the construction site and get a sense of the size of the building and listen to the project team speak about what the future hospital environment will offer,” Margaret said.
“I feel very positive about the future of the new hospital and knowing that it will house key paediatric services under one roof with the modern facilities and technology to support all kids on their health journeys.”
Margaret acknowledged the vibrancy of the hospital community, variety of volunteer opportunities and positivity of patients as her motivation for volunteering at CHW for more than two decades.
There have been so many special memories over the years at Westmead, and so many wonderful families, staff and volunteers I’ve been fortunate to meet along the way,” Margaret said.
“I like to be helpful and volunteering at this hospital is very rewarding because there’s always something to do or someone to support – which is why I’ve enjoyed it for such a long time.”
The children at the hospital live in the present they always see the bright side, remain resilient, and I just want these kids to have access to the best facilities to support them and their parents in the future.”
As part of the $619 million Stage 2 redevelopment of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, the Paediatric Services Building is scheduled to be completed in 2025 and will include cancer services, operating theatres, cardiac services, intensive care, pharmacy, and inpatient units. The multi storey car park is scheduled to open early 2024.