Name the crane: Toowoomba students get unique hospital opportunity

Toowoomba schoolchildren have the chance to win naming rights for the four new cranes being used to build the new Toowoomba Hospital.

Toowoomba schoolchildren are being given the chance to win naming rights for the four massive new cranes that are being used to help build the new Toowoomba Hospital.

The cranes were installed in late August and can reach up to 65m horizontally and 100m vertically, boasting a lifting capacity of 18 tonnes.

The cranes will play a critical role in the construction of the new hospital that is currently under way at the Baillie Henderson Hospital site, and the first stage of construction is on track for completion in December 2025.

The four cranes at the construction site of the new Toowoomba Hospital can each lift up 18 tonnes of material. Photo: Darling Downs Health.

Acting nurse unit manager of the pediatric ward at Toowoomba Hospital Renee Sherriff said the crane naming competition initiative was a chance to engage children with the healthcare sector.

“We know from pediatric care research that when children have positive, non-threatening interactions with hospitals, it can reduce anxiety, improve co-operation during treatment, and lead to better health outcomes over time,” Ms Sherriff said.

“By involving them in something fun and creative like naming the cranes, we’re not just engaging their imaginations, we’re helping to build familiarity, trust, and a sense of belonging. Those early positive experiences can make all the difference when a child needs care in the future.”

Students are encouraged to submit a name for each of the four cranes, along with a short explanation about why their chosen name is the perfect fit. The winning students and their class will get the chance to tour the new Toowoomba Hospital site and receive a replica model of a crane.

Primary school students can submit their entries at: www.darlingdowns.health.qld.gov.au/about-us/our-projects/new-toowoomba-hospital/name-the-crane.

Entries close October 31, 2025.