Save RPH Quilt

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2009

Overview

Red, white and black cotton, machine-sewn, patchwork quilt with fabric panels depicting heritage photographs of Royal Perth Hospital and surrounding areas.
The wording 'Royal Perth Hospital' is quilted in white cotton across the top and the panels include T-shirt pieces reading ‘Save RPH’ and 'I Love RPH'.
A calico label tacked to the back of the quilt suggests that it may have been entered in a craft or quilt show.
There is a pocket inserted in the quilt on the back right hand side at the bottom which may have been designed to hold fliers.

Historical information

This quilt was made by a group of ex-nurses of RPH who led a three-year campaign to save RPH from closing.
In 2006 the state government announced plans to recoup some of the costs of building the Fiona Stanley Hospital by selling the RPH site.
The news was received with an outcry from hospital staff and the public. A campaign gathered momentum, involving petitions, Save RPH merchandise, fun runs and a timely state election in which the issue became a political football.
After a three-year battle, the future of RPH was secured.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-48-OB2023.18

Item type

Textiles

Material

Cotton (Textile)

Polyester

Width

1620 mm

Height or length

1450 mm

Depth

10 mm

Themes

Social History

Inscriptions and markings

A calico label with handwriting in black marker is tacked to the back left hand side at the bottom. The label reads:
'Bev McGrath
4A Marlow St
Wembley 6014
9387 2418
Saving Royal Perth Hospital
162cmW x 140cmH
Category 12
Pictorial Quilt'

Contextual Information

Following the RPH Ex-Trainees and Associates AGM in June 2006 the committee decided something should be done to prevent the closure of Perth’s historic CBD hospital. A group of Ex-trainees took it upon themselves to generate awareness of what the closure would mean to the people of Western Australia.
More than 35,000 signatures were presented to the Parliament by the time the campaign was completed in November 2008.
To maintain a profile, slogans were printed on T-shirts, badges, bumper stickers, bags, visors, posters & fliers, funded by donations from the RPH Ex-trainees Associates, the RPH Clinical Association; the RPH Museum & community members.

Keywords

Quilt, Save RPH Campaign

Place made

Perth
Western Australia
Australia

Year

2009

Primary significance criteria

Artistic or aesthetic significance

Historic significance

Social or spiritual significance

Comparative significance criteria

Interpretive capacity