A sea of white shirts and club colours filled Sanger Street on Sunday when more than 600 people, close to 10 per cent of the combined population of Corowa, Wahgunyah and Rutherglen, joined the first Walk for Health.

Regardless of political persuasion, walkers were united by one message: local health is under-serviced today and future needs are being ignored by state and federal governments.

Led by piper Dylan Forge, the crowd moved from Federation Park to Bangerang Park, calling for urgent investment in both the Albury-Wodonga hospital upgrade and local facilities at Corowa and Urana.

Albury mayor Kevin Mack, Wodonga mayor Michael Goebel, Towong Shire councillor Denise Anderson and Indigo Shire chief executive Trevor Ierino marched alongside Federation leaders.

Federation deputy mayor, Rowena Black told the rally that lives, not postcodes should decide the level of care.

“Our community has spoken with its feet today, and governments must now match that commitment with real dollars,” Cr Black said.

Health care clinicians spelt out the pressure the local health system was under with daily bed shortages and maternity bottlenecks a region that received less capital funding than smaller regional centres.

Dr Heinz Dieter told the crowd that restoring theatre and emergency department at Corowa was the fastest way to ease the load on Albury right now.

A petition will be tabled to parliaments in the near future and by day’s end, signatures counted included 1500 to NSW, 1000 to Victoria and 2000 to the Federal Government.

Federation councillor, David Harrison said the closure of surgical facilities at Corowa meant the community must travel to Albury or Wangaratta where waiting lists are already long.

“Apart from the added travel costs and disruption to families, the waiting will result in poorer health outcomes for us,” he said.

The Corowa-Wahgunyah-Rutherglen Health Action Group spokesman John Crothers said the community was “motivated and mobilising” to secure better outcomes.

“Six hundred walkers and thousands of signatures prove we care,” he said.

“The message will now be on the desks of Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.”

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Sunday, 29th June 2025

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