Celebrating 125 years of hospitality, hope and healing

This week, St John of God Subiaco Hospital is celebrating its 125th year of delivering hospitality, hope and healing to the community.

16 May 2023

Image (left to right): St John of God Health Care Group CEO Bryan Pyne, St John of God Health Care Board Chair the Hon Kerry Sanderson AC CVO, Sr Isobel Moran, St John of God Subiaco Hospital CEO Tina Chinery, Sr Teresina Connolly, Chair of the Trustees of St John of God Health Care the Hon Neville Owen AO, Sr Gratiae O’Shaughnessy, Sr Ann Cullinane and Sr Vitalis Kilroy.

St John of God Subiaco Hospital was established on 19 April 1898 by the Sisters of St John of God - a congregation of Sisters from Wexford, Ireland. It was the first Catholic hospital to open in Western Australia.

St John of God Subiaco Hospital Chief Executive Officer Tina Chinery said that the anniversary is an incredible milestone and one that very few private hospitals in Australia have achieved.

“This anniversary is not only about recognising the enduring contribution our hospital has made in caring for generations of Western Australians. It is also about thanking our current caregivers for everything they do and for continuing the legacy of the Sisters of St John of God,” she said.

“St John of God Subiaco Hospital is an iconic Western Australian organisation and one that many residents have a connection with. There are those who were born here or gave birth here, those who have been healed here, and those whose loved ones have been comforted here in their final hours.

“The hospital has positively impacted the lives of countless numbers of people over the past 125 years and has grown substantially to meet the evolving health care needs of the community.”

“Having opened in 1898 as a single storey 30 bed facility staffed by 10 Sisters, the hospital has become a large, multidisciplinary facility with 600 beds and more than 2,000 caregivers. From humble beginnings, St John of God Subiaco Hospital is now renowned for offering patients the latest medical innovations and services and is considered one of Australia’s premier research institutes.”

To celebrate the anniversary, a variety of events are being hosted across the week for patients, visitors, caregivers, medical specialists and volunteers to enjoy.

A celebratory Mass and lunch was today held for members of the hospital community. The Mass was concelebrated by Bishop Sproxton and St John of God Subiaco Hospital Chaplain, Father Jude D’Rosario.

Attendees included Labor Member for Nedlands Dr Katrina Stratton, Federal Member for Curtin Kate Chaney MP, Deputy Mayor of the Town of Cambridge Cr Kate Barlow, Mayor of the City of Subiaco David McMullen, Chair of the Trustees of St John of God Health Care the Hon Neville Owen AO, Chair of the Board of St John of God Health Care the Hon Kerry Sanderson AC CVO, and St John of God Health Care Group CEO Bryan Pyne.

Guests were also honoured to be joined at the service by the Sisters of St John of God.

Commenting on the Mass, Ms Chinery added that the event provided attendees the opportunity to honour St John of God Subiaco Hospital’s rich history and pay tribute to the Sisters and countless doctors, caregivers, volunteers and patients who have contributed to the hospital’s incredible journey.

Information about the hospital’s history is being shared daily this week via St John of God Subiaco Hospital’s Facebook page. Members of the community are encouraged to follow the page and are invited to visit a 125 Year Anniversary Exhibition on display in the hospital’s main entrance foyer.