AN outpouring of community generosity and effort has secured the funds needed for an MRI machine in Swan Hill, months ahead of schedule.
The machine is set to play a critical and potentially life-saving role in local diagnosis and treatment planning, thanks to the hundreds who made the grassroots fundraising campaign possible.
From hospitality workers who pooled their tips, businesses who mobilised fundraising campaigns and gave donations, community trusts, schools, charities, clubs and two retirees who each week donated a small portion of their pension, the story of how Swan Hill secured the region’s first MRI machine shows the power and spirit of local community at its best.
Swan Hill District Health commended the community for raising $2,673,696 for the Mallee MRI Appeal, exceeding the $2.6 million target.
This keeps the project on track for MRI services to be available in Swan Hill by mid-2026.
SHDH is currently preparing to apply for funding to fit out the rest of the radiology department, where the MRI will be housed alongside the rest of the imaging services.
To ensure the MRI machine can be installed directly from the supplier without having to be stored in a secondary location, the purchasing process for the machine will align with the completion of the entire department.
SHDH expects the build of the medical imaging shell to be completed in early 2026.
The target included the machine itself, specialised housing and construction, chillers for the machine, and patient amenities to provide base level MRI services.
All excess funds will go toward enhancing the service through additional modifications and skills training for hospital staff.
SHDH interim chief executive Chloe Keogh thanked the community for rallying behind the appeal.
“The generosity of the community has well and truly exceeded our expectations as is evident in reaching the target well before we hoped we would,” she said.
“We are very grateful to the people of the community who have been so generous with this project, and we are really looking forward to installing our new MRI.”
The Mallee MRI Appeal began in October last year with an accumulated $1.4 million from an estate bequeathment and slowly rising community donations.
Volunteer Paula Starrs, then-SHDH marketing and communications advisor Marnya Watson, SHDH marketing, communications and fundraising officer Rebecca Lyons and Pooles Accounting senior manager Adam Laughlin spearheaded the campaign to gain greater community awareness and momentum.
“It’s been great to see the community really come together and get behind this campaign,” Mrs Lyons said.
“Getting to collaborate and build relationships with so many individuals in our region has been a highlight for us here at SHDH.
“We are extremely grateful for the help of Paula and Adam, and the community in general.
“When Paula offered to volunteer her time to do the groundwork and get the community behind us, it was too good of an opportunity to pass up and her effort has really made this possible.
“Paula and Adam put in the time that we couldn’t to get out in the community and build the appeal into this ground swell movement through conversations with their networks.”
They rallied to the support of Pooles Accounting, Pearsons Group, The Guardian, Beck Legal, Holts, Ace Radio, Whitfield Excavations, Rutherford Street Insurance Services and Kennedy’s Showcase Jewellers which built the confidence in the campaign needed to secure enthusiastic support.
Volunteer campaigner Mrs Starrs was in the midst of her own struggle to access an MRI appointment when she came across the original SHDH fundraiser for a local machine.
Since that day, she has worked alongside SHDH to raise the profile of the appeal, celebrating every donation with a photo and a chat, and channeling the community’s philanthropic efforts to the appeal.
“I just knew we could do it, and after that first cheque from ACE Radio Network in October, off it went,” she said.
“Every person I caught up with in the last eight months had a story about how a local MRI would improve their lives and save them money, and that just shows how much the community really needs it.
“Every amount donated made a difference and added up to get us here and is a testament to where we live.
“People should be proud to live here, I am, I just love this community.”
The Mallee MRI Appeal will still be open to receive ongoing fundraising efforts and the combined $399,000 in pledges until September 1, 2025.
$2,673,696 raised!
Contributions since October 2024:
Starting point – $1,400,000
Businesses – $420,000
Woanna Trust pledge – $349,000
Mark and Joanne – $100,000
Charities, clubs and schools – $57,000
Harvest Heroes – $77,000
General public – $270,000
