THE controversial Wagga Rural Referral Hospital sign is finally being removed prompting a celebratory glass of champagne for Catherine Pierce.
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The fifth floor signage on the hospital's exterior had drawn the ire of many residents when the hospital was renamed Wagga Rural Referral Hospital back in 2015.
The widespread community backlash saw the name changed back to Wagga Base Hospital in early 2018, however the old signage on the building's exterior stayed in place two years on.
Wagga resident Catherine Pierce, who has been a passionate advocate behind the hospital's name change, said it has been a struggle to see the "stupid sign" finally come down. But, she said it was great to see after it has caused much confusion for many residents, as well as hospital staff.
Ms Pierce spent the past 12-months walking the streets of Wagga gathering signatures and finding support from the community after being "fed-up" by the hospital's refusal to take down the sign.
"A lot of people were confused, even some of the staff here at Wagga Base Hospital didn't know the name," she said.
"Some doctors have congratulated me, called me a legend, a hero ... I don't want to be a celebrity, I just want what's right for the hospital."
However, Ms Pierce said her fight will not end until she sees a new sign that reads Wagga Wagga Base Hospital "up in lights".
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She said the fact they will not replace the sign at all has left many residents in "a state of shock".
"We need this confusion to be over," she said.
"It is necessary (to have a new sign) and it should be up in lights. You shouldn't have to drive to the entrance of a building to find out this is the hospital."
The Murrumbidgee Local Health District said the removal of the fifth floor signage on the hospital's exterior was organised to fit in with scheduled construction activity of the new building.
The hospital is currently in the final stage of its $431 million redevelopment.
The health district said signage to reflect the Wagga Base Hospital name had already been updated at the Edward Street entrance to the health campus, as well as on the ground floor of the acute services building.