Mr Hatch was the first man to graduate from the NSW College of Nursing. He was a dominate force at Dubbo Hospital for 44 years and spent 31 years as nurse educator.

An education and meeting area named in his honour is to be demolished to make way for a car park at the new-look hospital precinct.

A spokesman for Health Infrastructure said the history of the George Hatch Building was investigated as part of the master planning process for the hospital redevelopment.

"His relatives were consulted during this process," the spokesman said.

"During early planning for the project, it was agreed that Mr George Hatch should continue to be recognise as part of the history of Dubbo Hospital.

"The (redevelopment) project is currently in the detailed planning phase to determine the schematic design for stages three and four.

"As part of this process, the George Hatch plaque and other significance historical items will be retained and relocated to an appropriate location on the hospital campus."

Mr Hatch's niece Helen Tarry said a meeting was held with Health Infrastructure representatives about 18 months ago.

"They were told about the important role uncle George played at the hospital," Mrs Tarry said.

"Nothing has been heard from them since that initial discussion.

"The family, including my father Walter - who was George's youngest brother - would like to have some input into where the George Hatch Building signage, plaque and other significant material are located in the redeveloped hospital.

"We would not like the items hidden away in some dark room."

Mrs Tarry said her uncle was a part of nursing history and a great contributor to the profession.

"He should be celebrated as part of the history of the hospital," she said.

"It would be appropriate for material about his contribution, and the contribution of others who played significant roles to be displayed in a prominent location, such as the hospital foyer.

"The family would also like to see a room utilised on a regular basis named George Hatch. This would enable his contribution to be remembered as a living thing."

Mr Hatch was born in Sydney in 1919 and started working as a wardsman at Dubbo Hospital at age 17.

He was encouraged to become a nurse and began training under Matron McKnight in June 1940.

A year later Mr Hatch joined the Australian Imperial Force.

"My grandmother stayed up all night knitting a jumper to take the next day when he left for war," Mrs Tarry said.

"He sailed out on the Queen Mary, no doubt still digesting all that he had learned when Dubbo doctors took him into the operating theatre for a crash course on surgery as preparation for his time overseas."

Mr Hatch served in the Middle East, New Guinea and Bougainville before returning to Australia in 1945.

He resumed nursing training at Dubbo under matrons Shakespeare and McManus.

He completed his training in 1949 and received examination honours and awards for best practical nurse.

When a polio epidemic hit the region Mr Hatch attended lectures at the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children before returning to Dubbo to take charge of the isolation ward (where the iron lung was situated).

In 1953 he undertook a course at the NSW College of Nursing, gaining a diploma with honours. He was appointed principal nurse educator at Dubbo.

According to Mrs Tarry, also a nurse, there were many stories from his teaching years.

"Uncle George always had a twinkle in his eye and a dry wit. He was a servant to all, a gentle quiet man, and because of those qualities he earned great respect and above all great love,' she said.

"He spent many hours outside of work tutoring nurses. He could see the potential in each one and carried them through.

"Uncle George would gently walk up behind nurses, put his hand on their shoulder and say 'now nurse, what are you up to? I'll take care of this - you're better off doing something else.'

"That quiet approach got many a nurse out of trouble.

"Uncle George married early in his nursing career and was devoted to his wife, Freda and their son, Colin.

"At one point the doctors at Dubbo urged him to go to university to study medicine and offered financial support but he didn't want to leave his wife.

"She was special to him and he cared for and served her throughout their marriage."

For many years Mr Hatch took pleasure in being Father Christmas to children in hospital.

He was an active member of Dubbo Lions Club and a voluntary member of the ambulance service.

He was passionate about rugby league and became a strapper for Macquarie Raiders.

"Uncle George would spend Saturday preparing players for the game," Mrs Tarry said.

"He'd them spend the rest of the week fixing them up again. Many times I would go to his home in Pozieres Street and find Uncle George treating someone's muscle injury as the smell of Dencorub wafted out from the back bedroom."

Gardening was a great interest and Mr Hatch seemed to be able to grow anything. There were rose bushes in the front garden and all kinds of vegetables and trees out the back.

Mr Hatch would make pickles and chutney for the hospital fete and even had a go at rearing piglets for market.

Mr Hatch retired from Dubbo Hospital on May 18, 1984 and eventually moved to Ashmore on the Gold Coast.

He died on March 12, 2003. A memorial service was held at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Dubbo.