Merry Christmas and Happy New Year – A Message from RDHS Interim CEO

Apart from Easter, Christmas is the second most important Christian celebration.

It is also my favourite time of the year and every second year my wife Maryanne and I are joined by our three children, their partners and our 7 grandchildren for a few days. This year we will be joined by our children’s in-laws, so Christmas Day, commencing with early Mass, will be a bigger and more boisterous event than normal.

On the first Sunday each December Maryanne’s extended family also have a get together; she is the eldest of 13 children and these days with nieces and nephews around 120 attend the function  – with the increase in numbers the venue has transitioned from a family home to a sporting venue with catering facilities.

Over time, mindful of cultural and spiritual sensitivities, the religious aspects of Christmas have tended to be downplayed. Several years ago while living in Shepparton I was invited by a Muslim friend to attend a celebratory feast at the conclusion of Ramadan. I was surprised and pleased to see representatives from other faiths also attending. At the dinner I tentatively  asked one of the Muslim community leaders what he thought of attempts to ban nativity scenes from kindergarten’s and schools and exchanging “Merry Christmas” with Happy Holiday” as a greeting. He was emphatic that this should not happen and we should all have the freedom to be part of the religious celebrations of other faiths.  He told me that as Jesus was a prophet of Islam, he would be celebrating the birth of Christ with his Christian friends just as I was celebrating the end of Ramadan with my Muslim friend. He was also of the opinion that it wasn’t those from other religions pushing for the “whitewashing” of Christmas, but well-meaning but misguided people of no particular faith unnecessarily concerned about causing offence. Another guest of the Hindu faith agreed with him, and it is pleasing to me that these days those of other persuasions are often invited to celebrate Diwali with those of the Hindu faith as well.

Since that conversation I have felt more comfortable talking and writing about Christmas and Easter, so with this in mind I would like to wish every staff member a very Merry Christmas! I trust that your Christmas is everything you would like it to be, regardless of whether you are religious or spiritual or not a person of faith.  I will certainly be sparing a thought for those people who are on their own at this time of the year or are otherwise lonely or sick, and those like the RDHS clinical and support staff who are required to work on Christmas Day.  For the latter group, may your belated celebration, whatever form it takes, be as enjoyable as it could possibly be. Hopefully you will all be able to take some time off to “smell the roses” during December or January.

The last couple of years have been difficult for all with both Covid-19 and now the floods, and no one has been more impacted than those on the “front-line” of care delivery. Of course, everyone employed by or contracted to RDHS contributes to the care process in some way. Everyone is entitled to feel proud of what is done to support our patients, residents and clients. In the short time I have been at RDHS I have also learned how grateful the community is for the various health services we deliver.  We as providers together the citizens of Robinvale and district have a lot to be grateful for, and may it long continue – enjoy your Christmas by spending it in a way that will most benefit you and those you care about.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Greg Pullen

Interim Acting CEO

RDHS Board and Staff