Celebrating Paul Ramsay The Ramsay Way - 2014 | 02 3 PAUL RAMSAY AO, CHAIRMAN & FOUNDER OF RAMSAY HEALTH CARE, PASSED AWAY IN SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS PRIVATE HOSPITAL, BOWRAL, ON 1 MAY 2014 AFTER SUFFERING A HEART ATTACK. An Australian entrepreneur, Paul is known for his establishment of private hospitals; expanding regional television services; property development; and as a major benefactor to a range of educational, cultural, artistic and sporting organisations. This year was the 50th anniversary of the opening of Paul’s first private hospital in Sydney, Australia. From these early beginnings, he went on to establish Ramsay Health Care, which is today, not only the largest private hospital group in Australia, but a global hospital group operating hospitals across the world. For his services to the community, Paul was conferred an Officer of the Order of Australia in June 2002. He was a person who “radiated decency” according to former Prime Minister John Howard who spoke to the 1000-strong crowd who gathered at Paul’s recent public memorial, a memorial at which radio commentator Alan Jones and yachtsman Peter Shipway also spoke. Above all, Mr Ramsay was known by his close friends, family and people who have worked with him, and for him, as a true gentleman and a humble but proud Australian. Speaking at his private funeral in Bowral, Brian Thornton, married to Paul’s twin sister Anne, said the most uniquely beautiful aspect of Paul was that “he loved everyone, and loved to be loved in return”. “He made each of you feel special and loved. When he was speaking to you, you felt you were the only person in the room. He was not shy in telling you that he loved you. He did it often.” Little wonder that the verse chosen for Paul’s memorial service was a reading about love in a letter from St Paul to the Corinthians: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” A verse that so aptly described the Paul we all knew. Paul grew up in Bowral, New South Wales, the son of Oscar, a land surveyor and Mary. He is survived by his twin sister Anne and his brother Peter. In an interesting aside, his maternal grandfather was Sir Austin Chapman, the first Federal Member for Eden Monaro and a former Minister for Health. During his time as MP, Sir Austin won the battle to have the new Federal Capital in his own electorate and is acknowledged as the ‘Father of Canberra’. Just a few weeks before he died Paul celebrated 50 years in the private hospital industry at a function in Sydney. At that event, Managing Director Chris Rex paid tribute to “a wonderful Chairman, a true gentleman and a great friend”. “Paul Ramsay’s motto which has permeated the whole organisation over the decades has been: ‘Look after the patients; look after the staff and the rest will follow’,” Chris said. “Under his good guidance, Ramsay Health Care hospitals focus on maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety, being an employer of choice and operating the business according to “The Ramsay Way” philosophy: People Caring for People.” Paul will be greatly missed by his family, friends, colleagues, staff and doctors and anyone that knew him, throughout the world. For Ramsay Health Care, Paul wrote in the last The Ramsay Way, that he believed the next 50 years would be as good a journey as the first. “THE GOLDEN AGE IS BEFORE US, NOT BEHIND US. THANK YOU, I LOVE YOU & GOD BLESS.” Paul Ramsay speaking at the 50th Anniversary of Ramsay Health Care.
The Ramsay Way - Winter 2014
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