Plans for the new hospital in Bega were drawn up and tenders called in 1947.
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The construction was to be steel reinforced concrete with brick facings, (both scarce in post-war Australia) and the estimated cost (and Parliamentary provision) was £90,000.
However, the lowest tender received was £120,000 pounds. Premier McGirr refused to fund it.
The Bega community, led by the CWA, supported the board in its efforts to persuade the NSW government that a new hospital was desperately needed.
A major demonstration was organised and received double column headlines in the city press.
The protest was held on August 29, 1948.
Shops were closed and a parade held with Les Gowing and Cecil Squire leading it with a banner with "Build the Hospital Now" in bright red letters.
They were followed by the Bega Band, then banner bearers for the 16 CWA and Red Cross district branches, then the general public.
Movietone News filmed the parade, the public meeting, and the crew was later taken through the present hospital where they were able to film the very poor conditions including clouds of steam caused by the operating theatre steriliser.
At the public meeting attention was drawn to the fact that the hospital served a district population of 18,000, and had been under severe strain following the closure of the Cobargo, Candelo and Bemboka Private Hospitals.
Women were giving birth under deplorable conditions, with newborn children being placed in beer boxes.
The average occupation was 25, all but four from the country, as the doctors advised town folk to stay at home.
However, those from the country had no choice but to come in and take their chances or die at home without care.
Women were giving birth under deplorable conditions, with newborn children being placed in beer boxes.
A delegation from the meeting took the case to the Minister.
As a consequence the plans for the hospital were changed to full brick.
This was done because of the high cost of a construction of steel and cement. Tenders were called and accepted at the cost of £273,000.
Dr Ted Blomfield gave a graphic description of the operating theatre in 1949:
"It was horrible. Ether cone masks were used for anaesthetics and the temperature in summer would rise so high in the theatre that there was a risk of patients convulsing from the ether anaesthetics.
"This happened twice. The patients were saved, but only just."
