Time capsule opening

Tuesday 27th April 2010 saw the opening of the three original time capsules which were found behind the foundation stone of the original building. They included two glass, screw top jars and one roll of papers in plastic. Three special guests were given the honour of opening one capsule each.
The special guests were:
Mr Bruce Fuller, whose father placed the capsules in the wall cavity and was the President of the Board of Management in the early days,
Mrs Lorna White, whose husband was the foreman when the hospital was built and,
Miss Montanna Kerr, the last baby delivered at the hospital on 26th November 2000.  

Most of the items were quite well preserved although there was some damage to two of the newspapers found in the plastic package. The items included copies of "The Argus", " The Sun News Pictorial", "The Bendigo Advertiser" and the "Rochester Irrigator" from August 1952. 

The "Rochester Irrigator" included an article about the forthcoming opening of the hospital and a list of financial donations. It also included several photos of Rochester township and district and hand written notes regarding the Fuller family tree. A tribute card detailed the costs of building the facility with the original estimate of £20,000, the tender amount accepted of £78,000 but the final cost being £125,000.

Unexpectedly there was one time capsule from 1976, which would have been placed in the wall when the extension was built at the front of the facility. This included an annual report, the Campaspe News and a list of staff names and Committee of Management members. 

The original documents will be placed in another capsule to be reburied and a second time capsule is currently being planned to mark the completion of the new facility. Suggestions of possible contents are welcome from the staff and community.

 
Reproductions of the contents can be viewed in the health service foyer.
 
Click here to view photos of some of the time capsule contents

Click here to view "Rochester Irrigator" 6th August 1952