Community members step up to new health committee roles

Familiar faces and community advocates have stepped up to take on roles on the recently formed Wee Waa Local Health Committee.

A diverse mix, the committee includes many names readers would know from their dedicated work on other community groups and organisations.

Lorna Gleeson will lead the group as chair and is supported by members Bernadette Melton, Carlie Gray, David Barton, Nikita Hessel, Peter Carrett, Robyn Keeffe, and Sonia Fogarty.

From a small business owner to a land council chief executive officer to a young mum with a baby – Nikita is pictured with eight-week-old Audrey, every committee member represents different parts of the community, but they all share the same goal of improving health services in their much-loved hometown of Wee Waa and its surrounding areas.

The Courier spoke with the committee’s chair Lorna Gleeson about its formation.

“Many communities across the Hunter New England Local Health District area (HNELHD) have a Local Health Committee and such committees give the local community a formal opportunity to provide valuable input into local health services.

“The committee’s role is to ensure open and transparent dialogue between the Wee Waa local community and the HNELHD as we look to improving health outcomes for everyone in Wee Waa and the surrounding districts.”

When asked about its aim or main message to the community, Lorna explained: “The Wee Waa Local Health Committee is the 19th Local Health Committee to be established in the HNELHD and has the unique job of trying to advocate for the full reopening of the Wee Waa Hospital to 24/7 with an emergency department and up to five inpatient beds. The committee has met three times since its inception in September 2025 with talks from Jamie Curll, Ambulance NSW and Raylene Gordon, executive director, Aboriginal Health, HNELHD.

“Updates and discussions with HNELHD personnel continue to be positive and productive with an active recruitment drive in place to bring qualified registered nurses to Wee Waa.

“With two new nurses arriving to the Wee Waa Hospital in December and another in January, the Wee Waa LHC is hopeful that 2026 will see a stage two reopening to extended hours until 10pm, seven days per week with a view to reopening fully to 24/7, once the necessary number of registered and enrolled nurses are in place.”

Lorna thanked her fellow committee members for their commitment to the Wee Waa LHC, as well as local health managers, Julie Kirk, acting Wee Waa Hospital manager, Michelle Wilkinson, Narrabri Hospital manager and Sharon Philpott, Narrabri Community Health manager.

“Julie, Michelle and Sharon give valuable and honest insights to the Wee Waa LHC so that we can better understand the needs of the Wee Waa Hospital and the inner workings of our health facilities.”

The Wee Waa LHC reflects the rich diversity of the Wee Waa community and Lorna encourages community members to get in touch with committee members so that the many voices of the Wee Waa community can be heard and we can continue to advocate for the health needs for our community.