Royal Alexandra Hospital celebrates 125th anniversary with staffer with over 50 years of service

The Royal Alexandra Hospital is celebrating its 125th anniversary and one of its longest serving staff members.

Joanne Pointer, who has been with the Royal Alex for more than 52 years, helped unveil a mural painted by artists from the community.

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Pointer has spent most of her time at the Royal Alex working in the woman’s clinic.

She says she’ll never forget the day in 1981 when a twin-engine plane crashed into the building.

“My mom was a patient at the time. And so I managed to get back onto the property and then went to the women’s, our manager was there. And she said, ‘Well, go see your mom first and then you can help.’ And I did until about one o’clock in the morning at least. So, came in on a day off,” she told reporters on Friday.

The Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation is also marking the 125th anniversary with a book by a local historian called The Alex 125.