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HomeNewsHornsby Hospital honours First Nations in building name

Hornsby Hospital honours First Nations in building name

The new building just completed at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital has been named in honour of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, as the staff celebrate the cultural ties to the community.

Now when visitors and patients come to the new hospital, they will be entering the Muru Jannawi building.

Muru means path, and Jannawi means with us and together the translation is ‘’take the path with us.” It is pronounced mooroo yannawi.

Staff took part in a special celebration recently at the building’s name unveiling, which featured a Welcome to Country from Aunty Tracie Howie, who is a direct descendant of Bungaree and a Guringai Traditional Custodian. 

The day’s events also included a smoking ceremony and dance by Koomurri and a feast of indigenous bush tucker food featuring kangaroo, crocodile and bush herbs.

Speaking at the event, Chief Executive Deb Willcox said it was lovely to see the new hospital acknowledge the First Nations people through the building’s name, greeting signs and art.

This is really special day and it is wonderful for staff, patients and the community to have a hospital they deserve
Northern Sydney Local Health district Chief Executive Deb Willcox

“Thank you to each and every one of our staff, our volunteers and our community members who have played such an important role in the new hospital.”

Artist Jade Oakley also presented concepts of murals, which she created with Frances Belle Parker, that will adorn the façade of the multi-storey car park.

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