PRIMARY school students across the Fraser Coast have a unique chance to make their mark on the Hervey Bay Hospital Expansion by naming the towering crane now on-site.
The ‘Name the Crane’ competition, launched by Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (WBHHS), encourages creativity and community involvement in the major upgrade.
WBHHS Chief Executive Debbie Carroll emphasised the significance of the initiative, stating, “The 37-metre-tall hammerhead tower crane is helping expand healthcare in Hervey Bay, and it’s fitting that local children help name it.”
The hospital expansion includes a new medical inpatient unit, the relocation of the intensive care unit, and a rooftop helipad for direct patient transfers.
“These upgrades will improve patient care, reduce wait times, and enhance emergency services,” Carroll said.
WBHHS Project Director Alison Smith expressed excitement about the competition and the creativity of young participants.
“The crane will be a key part of the hospital for a year, lifting materials like scaffolding, steel, and the new helipad,” Smith said.
“This competition lets local kids engage with the project in a fun way.”
Contractor Apollo Property has donated prizes for the winning entry, and the selected name will be displayed on a banner for all to see.
Students are encouraged to submit imaginative names that reflect the crane’s role in the hospital expansion and its connection to health and community.
The Hervey Bay Hospital Expansion is part of the Capacity Expansion Program, delivered by Health Infrastructure Queensland in partnership with WBHHS.
With local children involved, the crane’s name will embody the community’s spirit and imagination.
How to Enter:
- Students should come up with a creative name for the crane.
- Entries must be submitted by a parent/guardian or teacher via the official competition webpage: Hervey Bay Hospital ‘Name the Crane’ competition https://www.widebay.health.qld.gov.au/hospitals-and-health-centres/hervey-bay-hospital/name-the-crane-voting-form
- The deadline for submissions is Sunday, 9 March 2025.
- A judging panel will select four finalists for a public vote.
