It was the day the Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital was officially opened. This week marks 70 years since that momentous occasion.

It was a massive day with a crowd of 1500 attending the hospital official opening according to news reports.

The battle to actually get a public hospital in Nowra was a long one as highlighted in one of Alan Clark's Historical Happenings columns.

The Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital that occupies the area between Nowra's Recreation Ground and the Shoalhaven River is the symbol of the greatest battle ever undertaken by the local community.

Forced by the substantial bequest in David Berry's will to support the hospital at nearby Berry, the State Government saw no need for such a public facility at Nowra which made do with a number of private hospitals.

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However, the influenza epidemic of 1919 inspired the people of Nowra to work for a public "cottage hospital" that would serve as a memorial to those who had been killed in World War I.

The handful of local doctors were enthusiastic, as were the local politicians, a committee selected a five-acre section of the Recreation Ground as an ideal site, and fundraising was soon under way.

The Government's initial promise was £1000, and three years later refused to increase that amount, insisting that "new hospitals should not be established in districts within easy access of already established efficient institutions".

While the doctors were adamant that a £3000 hospital would be ideal for a start, the Public Works Department drew up plans for one that would cost £17,000.

There was no compromise, and after several years the £10,000 raised by the community was put towards the soldiers' memorial gates at the entrance to Nowra Showground that were opened in 1931.

The need for a Nowra hospital did not go away, and in the midst of World War II a small group of citizens held regular meetings.

The Hospitals Commission gave permission for plans to be drawn up for what was then to be called the Shoalhaven District War Memorial Hospital, and fundraising again got under way.

It was said that the proposed hospital would cost around £80,000, but community groups took up the challenge in the best way they knew how, with Nowra Dramatic Society raising £61/15/2 from one production, while various other fundraising events were held, including sports' days.

At this time Nowra had three doctors caring for about 3,500 residents of the town and a similar number in the outlying districts. They were served by the Edman Hospital with 10 beds for maternity cases, and the 12-bed Shoalhaven Private Hospital.

A breakthrough appeared to have been gained when Health Minister Kelly announced in July 1947 that a start would be made on a 60-bed general and maternity hospital during the current financial year.

Fundraising continued, but there was no start on the project that was said to have blown out to £140,000.

Again the local people grabbed the initiative in a novel way with a sign being erected at the northern approach to Nowra which attracted the attention of the tourist population and the metropolitan press. It read:

DRIVE CAREFULLY.

You are now entering NOWRA the largest country town in NSW WITHOUT A PUBLIC HOSPITAL. DEATH IS SO PERMANENT.

A public meeting held in Nowra School of Arts on May 30, 1949 saw all sections of the community unite to protest against the delay in starting the hospital. It would be almost a year later before chairman Walter Watson turned the first sod, and another year before the official opening on May 19, 1951, performed by Dr Frederick Rodway who had been one of those who pushed for the original hospital some 32 years earlier.

It was said to be "a red letter day" for the people of Nowra who had shown perseverance, persistence and fight before winning this battle.

The media coverage in the Nowra Leader on Friday, May 25 described it a s "Red letter day in the history of the Shoalhaven".

There was a sense of great pride apparent in the large assembly of the Shoalhaven residents numbering at least 1500 who congregated in front of the main building of the Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital on Saturday afternoon, May 18 when the official opening of the new hospital took place.

This notable enthusiasm which was intensified after inspection of the hospital and nurses quarters must've brought consolation to the chairman, secretary and members of the Shoalhaven Hospital Board and to the Matron of the hospital, those who had worked so hard towards this day of days in the history of the Shoalhaven

Included in the official opening party at the opening of the hospital with Dr Lilley, Chairman of the NSW Hospitals Commission, Cr H.O. Cox President Shoalhaven Shire, Mr W Stimpson Commissioner NSW Hospitals Commission, Mr J.G. Beale MLA, Surgical Commander Coplans Naval Air Station Nowra.

Mr H.W. Watson, Chairman of the Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital board said it was his privilege to welcome all there for the opening of the first public hospital in Nowra.

"Some of you may not like the type of building or may consider it its completion has been over long, but this latter fact was not due to any fault of the Hospital Commission or the local Board," he said.

"One of the chief causes of delay in the completion of the hospital was the continued growth and spreading pains of the district.

"I cannot speak to highly of the help given to the Hospital Commission and of the financial aid given by the good people of the Shoalhaven for the hospital.

"The position of the buildings are so placed that he believes room for the 60-bed hospital we hope to have in five or six years hence."

Mr Watson concluded by strongly appealing for necessary financial assistance towards the upkeep of the hospital.

Mr H.O Cox said the opening of the hospital was a day that was one of great moment for the Nowra and the surrounding districts and in fact, the whole Shire.

The introduction of this public hospital, he said, brought facilities to Nowra and the surrounding districts which would benefit the people and the generations to come.

Dr Lilley said NSW was well equipped with hospitals, with more beds per head of population in NSW than any other Australian states or even in the USA.

Mr J.G. Beale MLA, who greatly assisted in the pushing forward the plans to the hospital, was entrusted with the important task for declaring it open.

In the course of his speech Mr Beal said: "The page of history being written of the Shoalhaven district today is only part of the chapter of present-day activities in the district and is born of the dreams of men of visions of decades ago".

It is also fitting that the hospital should be dedicated as a War Memorial.

The town already had memorial gates for those who gave their lives in World War I.

The hospital would be a living memorial to those who paid the supreme sacrifice in World War II.

Mr Beale asked Dr Rodway, Nowra's oldest medical practitioner, and one who had given great service to the district, to turn the key in the door.

After Dr Rodway carried out the request he thanked Mr Beale for entrusting him with the key of this fine institution.

"The chief use of a key is to keep out intruders," Dr Rodway he said.

"In this event however we will remain open to give medical and surgical relief to all who require it, at any hour of the day or night.

"Such being the case a key is superfluous.

"I remember reading a book on American customs, and in that it was mentioned that when the speak-easy is opened, the proprietor takes the key and throws it into the river to indicate the doors will never be closed.

"And for that same reason I follow his lead and cast the key into space."

The doctor there upon threw the hospital key into the crowd.

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