For the 21,000 residents of Swan Hill, the nearest MRI scanner is currently located two hours away in Bendigo. But that will soon change after a successful fundraising campaign reached its $2.6 million goal, enabling the hospital to purchase its own MRI machine.
Ainsley O’Bryan, who operates a caravan park in Swan Hill, said an MRI scan three years ago was critical in diagnosing a spinal cord tumour.
However, getting the diagnosis required costly travel and time off work.
“If we had the MRI machine here, the tumour could have been found much sooner,” Ms O’Bryan said.
“I wouldn’t have had to take time off work or arrange childcare for my kids. The costs of fuel and accommodation added up quickly.”
She and her husband have undergone a total of seven MRI scans over five years, each involving a three to four-hour drive to Ballarat or Melbourne.
A Personal Cause
Mallee MRI Appeal organiser Paula Starrs said the fundraiser stemmed from personal experience.
“One of my family members needed an MRI, and I was shocked at how difficult it was to access one,” she said.
“It wasn’t life-threatening, but I started to think how scary it would be if it was.”
At the time, the hospital had already secured $1.4 million, including $1 million from a local bequest.
“The hospital can’t directly ask the community for donations, but volunteers can,” Ms Starrs said.
After contacting the hospital, she and a few friends quickly launched the fundraising campaign.
The response was overwhelming.
“There were too many donors to count — nearly every business in town contributed,” she said.
“We’re all thrilled with how quickly it came together. The whole town should be very proud — most of the donations came directly from Swan Hill and nearby areas.”
Relief for Volunteers and Patients
Currently, volunteers from Swan Hill Neighbourhood House drive patients long distances for medical scans. The fundraising team estimates up to 70 Swan Hill residents need MRI scans each week.
Volunteer driver Dianne James said having a machine in town would ease the burden, especially for elderly patients.
“Many aren’t in good health and don’t have family or friends to help them travel,” she said.
Some patients have had to delay critical scans for weeks due to the difficulty of traveling.
“With a local MRI, they can have the scan and return home to rest within an hour or so.”
Gratitude from the Hospital
Swan Hill District Health interim CEO Chloe Keogh expressed her deep appreciation for the community’s generosity.
“I’m so grateful for how quickly these donations came in,” she said.
The hospital is in the middle of a $65 million state-funded redevelopment, which includes building a new radiology area. However, additional state funding will be needed to equip the area with an x-ray machine, CT scanner, and the newly funded MRI.
Ms Keogh said the hospital already has trained staff ready to operate the MRI, which is expected to be up and running by mid-2026.
When asked why state funds weren’t provided for the MRI and whether further funding would be available to complete the radiology department, the Victorian Health Department declined to comment.
