Symbion celebrated 180 years of healthcare excellence with a gala event in Adelaide on May 15, highlighted by a special performance by celebrated operatic soprano Greta Bradman – paying tributeto the company’s connection to Australia’s greatest cricketer.
More than 100 guests, including Pharmacy Guild of Australia President Professor Trent Twomey and South Australia’s Chief Pharmacist Naomi Burgess, together with past and present Symbion employees and customers, came together at the National Wine Centre of Australia to commemorate Symbion’s legacy, which stretches back to May 19, 1845 when Francis Hardy Faulding opened a retail pharmacyin Adelaide.
Ms Bradman’s grandfather and revered cricketer the late Sir Donald Bradman was a director of FH Faulding and Co, which is now Symbion – one of Australia’s leading providers of end-to-end solutions for pharmacy and hospital customers.
Ms Bradman performed four songs, closing out her set with a stirring rendition of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s You’ll Never Walk Alone from Sir Donald Bradman’s favourite musical, Carousel.
“Ms Bradman’s performance was a true highlight of the evening and we were honoured that she – together with so many people who have shaped and supported our company – could be part of our 180th celebration,” Symbion CEO Brett Barons said.
“There are a few Australian companies whose origins pre-date Symbion’s but in the realm of healthcare we truly stand apart in how we have positively impacted generations of Australians.
“Alongside our wonderful people, what gives me the greatest pride is knowing that every medicine we distribute, every pharmacy and hospital we support and with every investment in our people and our technology, we make a difference to health outcomes and the communities we serve.
“It’s been an honour to be given the opportunity to lead a business founded in my hometown.”
Mr Barons said that around one in three of all medicines consumed in Australia daily have
ultimately passed through one of Symbion’s nine warehouses nationally, which co-ordinate deliveries of over 16,500 product lines to nearly 4000 retail pharmacy customers and 1300 hospital customers.
A video showcasing Symbion and Faulding’s rich history, and featuring some of their longest-serving employees, was screened at the 180th celebration.
Among those starring in the video are storeperson Carmine Piantadosi, who with 51 years with the company is presently Symbion’s longest serving Team Member, Symbion’s Customer Service Manager (Vic/Tas) Alison Becker (38 years) and company General Manager Supply Chain, Terry Hayes (46 years). Mr Hayes said he was particularly proud of Symbion’s leadership during the COVID pandemic induced medicine shortage.
“With the approval of the ACCC and the Commonwealth Department of Health, Symbion championed a working party consisting of the TGA, suppliers, regulators and even our competitors,” he said.
“We met monthly to develop strategies to ensure very scarce medicines made their way to the patients who needed them most urgently, no matter where they lived in Australia.
“Some of the processes developed to handle the equitable distribution of these medicines are still in use today.”
A modern, technology focused business, employing more than 1100 staff Australia-wide, Symbion comprises wholesale, TerryWhite Chemmart Pharmacy Choice, HealthSAVE, Minfos, Intellipharm, DoseAid, Cincotta and others.
The original Faulding brand lives on directly through quality driven consumer products.
Watch the Symbion 180th video
