Josie the Crane will be joined by Wasek the Crane and Ashton and Grant the Crane in the coming weeks – proudly named in honour of more incredible Grampians Health staff.

Josie commenced her nursing career at Grampians Health (then known as Ballarat Health Services) in 1969, serving across the Queen Elizabeth Centre and later at Jack Lonsdale Lodge as a Charge Nurse and Nurse Unit Manager. In the final years of her career before retirement, she worked as a Clinical Nurse Educator in Aged Care.

Following major abdominal surgery over a decade ago, Josie asked how she could give back to the hospital after receiving excellent care. A Wound Care team leader suggested a simple yet meaningful idea of sewing fabric cover bags to discreetly conceal surgical drains and tubes. In an act of compassion, Josie began handmaking the bags and over the years has donated more than 2,000 to the Wound Care and Surgical teams.

The second tower crane will be named in honour of Associate Professor Wasek Faisal, a medical oncologist and oncology research lead, who has established himself as a leading figure in lung cancer clinical research and patient care. Wasek is passionate about driving cutting-edge cancer research and treatment in regional areas and delivering care closer to home.

He’s been at the forefront of clinical trials at Grampians Health, serving as principal investigator in numerous lung cancer trials, bringing advanced therapeutics, including novel immunotherapy and cancer vaccines to local patients.

In recognition of extraordinary resilience, compassion and dedication, the third crane will be named in honour of brothers Ashton Kline and Grant Monks. Ashton, an Undergraduate Clinical Placement Coordinator and Registered Nurse, and Grant Monks, Switchboard Operator and Kidney Health Australia Ambassador, have turned personal tragedy into lives of service, compassion, empathy and advocacy.

Their story is one of unimaginable hardship and remarkable strength. As children, their mother's life was tragically taken by their violent father. Ashton, only 15 at the time, promised to protect and care for his younger brother Grant, who was just six years old. He has kept that promise every day since.

Grampians Health CEO Dale Fraser said naming the tower cranes after four incredible staff was more than a tribute, it was a testament to their compassion, respect and relentless innovation.

“Their inspirational stories will all soon be quite literally etched into the Ballarat skyline, reminding us every day of the heart and humanity driving our work forward,” Mr Fraser said.

“Josie’s handmade bags have since supported countless patients in reclaiming their dignity, helping them feel more comfortable and confident during vulnerable times.

“Wasek’s commitment to advancing cancer treatment and his dedication to improving outcomes for patients through innovative research and clinical leadership is commendable.

“The journey of brothers Ashton and Grant reminds us that healing is possible, and that hope, when nurtured with the care of each other, can transform even the deepest pain into purpose. The naming of this crane is a tribute not only to the lives they’ve built from the rubble of trauma, but to the strength they represent for the Grampians Health community.”

Chief Redevelopment and Infrastructure Officer Veronica Furnier said the upgrade of the Ballarat Base Hospital Redevelopment was not just about bricks and mortar, it was about people.

“We called on our staff to nominate their colleagues who represented Grampians Health’s values and who they believed deserved to have their name on one of three cranes,” Ms Furnier said.

“These cranes will stand as a tribute to the values that all staff represents – compassion, respect and innovation and that we can all help make a difference.”

All three cranes will support the construction of the new seven-level tower part of Stage 3 which is being delivered in partnership with the Victorian Health Building Authority and Built. Stage 3 includes a new emergency department, state-of-the-art theatre suite and an extra 100 additional inpatient and short stay beds.