Official opening of renovated Fremantle Dental Clinic

6/2/96

A new era of public dentistry was officially launched in Fremantle today with the opening of the recently refurbished Fremantle Dental Clinic.

Health Minister Kevin Prince opened the clinic, which was upgraded at a cost of more than $1 million provided by the State Government with a Commonwealth Government contribution of $100,000.

Mr Prince said the clinic had a long and distinguished history in the Fremantle area with some 60 years of service.

"The clinic was started back in 1936 by a very determined schoolmaster and East Fremantle Town Councillor, Mr Jack Gustafson, who persuaded local dentists to help provide a much-needed service for disadvantaged children," the Minister said.

"He went on to co-ordinate the establishment of a public dental clinic for all people in need and for many years that clinic proudly bore his name."

Mr Prince said that the 1989 amalgamation of the Health Department's dental health branch and the Perth Dental Hospital started a new direction for dental health services in Western Australia.

"In the case of Fremantle, dedicated staff were struggling with inadequate facilities and a burgeoning demand," he said.

"As a result of amalgamation changes, Fremantle has been one of the first regions to benefit from moves to improve facilities across the system."

Mr Prince said a shift toward more decentralised services and a program to upgrade some clinics and build new ones in Perth's expanding outer suburbs spelled continuing good news for dental patients.

"While we cannot do much about the pathological fear some people have about dental clinics, we have at least proudly ensured that a visit to the Fremantle Dental Clinic will be the very best possible," he said.

Media contact: Stacey Molloy 366 0300 or 222 9595