The year 2025 proved to be a period of significant upheaval and poignant loss for Western Australia, marked by a severe strain on the state's hospitals, a high-stakes legal battle in the political sphere, and the passing of two beloved local icons.
A Health System Under Extreme Pressure
The most pressing issue for many West Australians was the escalating crisis within the public health system. Hospitals across the state, particularly major metropolitan facilities, faced unprecedented demand. This led to critical ambulance ramping incidents, where patients endured lengthy waits in emergency vehicles before being admitted.
Elective surgery waitlists ballooned, stretching out for months and even years for some non-urgent procedures. Frontline medical staff, including nurses and doctors, reported extreme levels of burnout and fatigue as they struggled to manage the overwhelming patient loads with limited resources. The crisis became a central point of political debate, with the state government facing intense scrutiny over its management and funding of health services.
Senator Linda Reynolds' Landmark Legal Victory
In a major development from the nation's capital, Western Australian Senator Linda Reynolds won a defamation case against former political staffer Brittany Higgins. The Federal Court found that social media posts made by Higgins in 2022 were defamatory of Senator Reynolds.
The court ruled that the posts conveyed defamatory meanings, including that Reynolds was a hypocrite, had pressured Higgins not to proceed with a police complaint, and had acted in a manner deserving of condemnation. This legal victory for the Senator concluded a long-running and highly publicised aspect of the controversy that had surrounded Parliament House in recent years.
The End of an Era: Remembering Ozzy and Eileen Bond
The year also saw the passing of two figures who had become household names in WA. Ozzy Bond, the charismatic and long-time television presenter best known for his work on the children's show Club TV, passed away. He was remembered for his infectious energy and the joy he brought to generations of young viewers.
His wife, Eileen Bond, a respected journalist and broadcaster in her own right, also died during the year. The couple, who had been married for decades, were celebrated not just for their individual contributions to WA media, but for their enduring partnership. Their deaths marked the end of a significant chapter in the state's cultural history.
Looking back, 2025 was a year that tested Western Australia's institutions and touched the hearts of its people, from the corridors of hospitals and courtrooms to the living rooms of families who grew up watching their favourite TV hosts.
