Friday April 4, 2025
The new Endoscopy and Day Procedure Unit at the Youang Surgery Centre is now complete has enabled the relocation of services from the Gretta Volum Centre (GVC), paving the way for the Barwon Women’s and Children’s main works construction on the site. 
One of the tasks in the relocation of the Gretta Volum Centre services, was also relocating the beloved roses and plaques from the GVC garden.
To ensure the roses continued to bloom well into the future, the BWC project team worked with the families who planted the roses to ensure they went to a loving home. One of the family members is Barwon Health staff member Josh. This is Josh’s story:
“I am Josh Griffiths, the Nurse Unit Manager of the Central Sterilising Unit in UHG and the Satellite Reprocessing Unit in YSC. These departments have dedicated staff that reprocess (decontaminate and sterilise) instrumentation and equipment for surgeries and other procedures. Prior to this I worked as a Clinical Nurse Specialist and Clinical Support Nurse for Scrub/Scout in Main Theatre, as well as spending time as a registered nurse in BMI and multiple departments throughout my Graduate Year, including Gretta Volum Centre (GVC), where I had the privilege of working with my mum, Debbie Griffiths, and following, as best I could, in her footsteps. I have been nursing at Barwon Health since 2009.”
“Mum was a well-respected registered nurse employed at GVC. She had placements there as an undergraduate in the late 1990’s and fell in love with the people and environment. She managed to get a graduate year rotation in GVC and then joined the department as a permanent staff member. Mum was a talented all-rounder, working in recovery as well as scrub/scout roles (which was her passion). She stepped in as Acting Associate Nurse Unit Manager and Acting Nurse Unit Manager on numerous occasions. She was also an active Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation representative, preceptor for junior staff and an avid occupational health and safety (OH&S) advocate and representative.
“Mum unfortunately passed away suddenly whilst attending an OH&S study day in May 2011 at the age of 53. As such, her colleagues in GVC as well as staff and friends from other departments donated a plaque and roses to be placed at the entrance of GVC so that they would see her each time they went into work.”
“My parents always had beautiful rose gardens wherever they lived and so this choice of plant holds a special significance to her and our family. As well as the roses and plaque, a framed photo was hung in the department and an annual award for the most exceptional Perioperative Specialist Year Nurse, The Debbie Griffiths Prize, was created.”
“As plans for Barwon Women’s and Children’s continue, it was wonderful to be able to have the roses come home with us. I have given dad two roses to add to the rose garden that has continued after Mum’s passing and I will be planting one rose at my front door so that we can see the flowers in bloom.”
To keep up-to-date on the Barwon Women’s and Children’s project click here https://bwc.barwonhealth.org.au/