Cobden-born Ms Bresnehan returned to where it literally all began on Wednesday at Cobdenhealth’s 60^th birthday celebrations.

Ms Bresnehan was guest of honour as the first baby born at the then-Cobden Bush Nursing Hospital in 1958.

She made the journey from Tasmania for the event and although the service has since had a rebranding and no longer operates a hospital, Ms Bresnehan was pleased to see it still going strong.

Now working in aged care herself, Ms Bresnehan said Cobdenhealth had an important role to play in looking after the local community, especially its older members.

“It’s an extremely important part of the community,” she said of the organisation.

“It’s good that we support it. I think just about every person in Cobden would have a story about Cobdenhealth, whether it’s well-being, residential home care, end of life or employment.”

Wednesday’s 60^th anniversary celebrations attracted a large crowd of well-wishers and Cobdenhealth chief executive officer Leonie Rooney said it was a sign of how well the service had been supported since its inception.

“We’ve got so many people to be thankful for,” she said.

Looking ahead, Ms Rooney said a community gym was in the pipeline and a master plan was being developed to revamp the site.

Will-wishers on Tuesday celebrated the birthday with a classic afternoon tea, just as they did when Premier Sir Henry Bolte officially opened the hospital six decades ago. Ms Rooney said as much as things have changed, a lot has stayed the same.

“Reading the history if the Cobden Bush Nursing Hospital, I note that at various times the facility has struggled with low occupancy, difficulty finding staff and funding challenges, so nothing really is new. These are still the same challenges we’re facing today, but Cobden Bush Nursing Hospital endured back then and it will continue to be an important part of this community, an important employer and an important service,” she said.

Member for Wannon Dan Tehan did the honours of planting a blue spruce tree, to replace a similar tree cut down to make way for the hospital. He described Cobdenhealth as a “heart and soul community organisation”.

“It’s something the came from the community, it was something that was built through the will of the community and it’s something that continues to thrive because of the community,” Mr Tehan said.

The celebrations continue on Saturday with a fete at the health service from 11am-2pm, including a silent auction, food and children’s activities.