Speeches
Wednesday, 02 September 2026
Reception to celebrate the Women’s and Children’s Hospital 150 years of philanthropy
I am delighted, as Patron of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation, to welcome you to Government House.
Almost to the day, 150 years ago, a group of philanthropic women came together to turn a bold idea into action – to build a hospital to provide better healthcare for children.
The hospital was made possible through the vision, leadership and fundraising efforts of Dr Allan Campbell and Lady Mary Colton and their fellow group of dedicated community advocates, who together raised the two and a half thousand pounds needed to build the hospital, which opened in 1879.
Lady Colton was not only a founder of the hospital but remained on the board for the rest of her life and I am particularly delighted to welcome here this evening her descendent, Ms Aria Colton.
Also here tonight, manifesting a link to more recent service to the hospital, I acknowledge and welcome sisters Mrs Judith Varcoe and Mrs Philippa Denton.
Judith and Philippa, and sister Susan who couldn’t be with us, are daughters of Alan Crompton, a Life Member who, for 26 years from 1958 served as a board member of the hospital and then for another 17 years served on the foundation board.
Welcome.
South Australians are by their nature generous in spirit. We care about the institutions that help shape our community.
It has to be said though that there are some we care more deeply about than others. The Women’s and Children’s Hospital is one such, more likely than not because many South Australians have a personal connection with it.
I well remember the care my baby brother received after the Guthrie test he was given at birth returned a positive result for PKU. He was one of the first South Australians to be tested and receive life-saving treatment.
I well remember the care I received at the Women’s and Children’s. I was nine. I had pneumonia and naturally enough I was a little bit afraid.
While I was not particularly pleased to be in hospital, the nurses were kind and the doctors were attentive. They made me feel cared for.
And I learned a skill for life – how to do “nurses corners” when making a bed.
As an adult, and in my interactions with the hospital as Governor, I know this care endures.
Generations of donor support has helped the hospital to care for the whole child and not simply treat illness.
Today’s Foundation has funded programs, enabled spaces and experiences to be established so that children can continue to play, learn, create, connect, and be a child while receiving care.
I was moved and inspired by a visit to the Hospital School last year, and earlier this year to launch its My Art, My SA exhibition at Credit Union SA. I have also had the opportunity to learn of the impact of the hospital’s research program and its impacts.
While our public health system provides the foundation for excellent care, philanthropy enables us to go further, by supporting research, innovation, and wellbeing.
For 150 years, people have come together around a shared commitment to improving lives - donors, volunteers, health professionals, researchers, businesses, families, and governments all playing a part.
More specifically, philanthropy has enabled wellbeing through initiatives such as palliative care, the Beach House, the inclusive playground, and Arts in Health programs.
In achieving that, I thank the board, staff, volunteers and supporters for your vision and hard work.
I particularly congratulate the award winners we are recognising today.
You are among those who are carrying forward the proud tradition of support forged 150 years ago which created an institution I think the founders would have aspired to and be proud of.
In looking to the future, as the Women’s and Children’s Hospital enters a new chapter, philanthropy will continue to play a vital role.
I trust the foundation will ensure it is so for the next 150 years and beyond.