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Jean Gallacher

SACH  Soundings
 No 10 June 2002

Page 1

Jean is the New Convener

Rev Jean Gallacher replaces the Rev Stewart McGregor as convener of the ‘Hospitals, Healthcare and Universities Sub-Committee’. So who is this mysterious person and what attributes does she bring to the sub-committee? The first thing that you notice about Jean is her warm, welcoming smile and her open, friendly demeanor. Jean is currently minister at Dunipace Parish Church and has faithfully served as minister there since she was ordained and inducted in 1989. She is a well known face within Falkirk presbytery, and is presently completing her year as Moderator. 

In addition to her parish and presbytery commitments, Jean has a long standing interest in health issues eg she has served in previous years as a part-time hospital chaplain and as a member of the Local Health Council, before her current appointment as a Non-Executive Director on Forth Valley NHS Board (1995). Responsibilities arising from her current post include chairing the Audit Committee and the Forth Valley Ethics of Research Committee as well as participating in Communications, Clinical Governance and Remuneration Committees. 

Jean’s interest in health matters had further evolved through her on-going commitment to personal and professional development. Her current studies include completion of a Diploma in Counselling, with the National Counselling Service at Wallace House, Edinburgh and the Doctor of Ministry Program at Princeton (where she is focusing upon chaplaincy as her area of specialisation). 

What does Jean do to relax? Well, she can be seen hillwalking, or on the dance floor enjoying ballroom and Latin dancing …. if she is too tired to do this, then she simply enjoys entertaining.

Joanne Finlay
Chaplain, Falkirk & District Royal Infirmary

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Anyone for Gardening?

Watch out for Orkney’s Balfour Hospital Chapel garden on the BBC Scotland programme, The Beechgrove Garden. Presenters Jim McColl and Carole Baxter are discussing the plans for the hospital chaplaincy garden makeover with the chaplains, Mike Ward and Christine Laird, and hospital staff, in preparation for the mini-makeover of the garden in early August 2002. Mike and Christine say they were delighted to hear the news about the garden. ‘At the moment the small garden is very uninspiring and it is rarely used,’ said Christine. ‘We want to put in French windows to make the garden and the chapel corridor accessible for patients to enjoy. When it is finished, the garden should be a very sheltered, peaceful and reflective place for patients and staff.

The garden designers are aware that the final phase of a £10 million building programme is due to start at the hospital in the next couple of years. One of the design briefs will be to make the garden transportable if the chapel gets a new home. 

Volunteers from the hospital staff will be used to do some of the preparatory work, which will form half of one programme when it is transmitted in mid August. 

The Chapel garden was chosen from over 60 entries submitted for consideration.