By EMMA ANVARI

Final farewells were said last weekend to the MonaDome – home of Monash Uni baseball –  in preparation for Australia’s first stand-alone heart hospital.

With construction to begin later this year, the Victorian Heart Hospital will be built on the grounds of the baseball team’s 27-year-old clubhouse, next to Blackburn Rd.

Monash University Baseball Club president Benny Chiu said he had known the heart hospital was a possibility for some time, but had mixed feelings about the decision to use their grounds.

“It definitely came as a shock when it was advised the hospital would directly impact the MonaDome,” he said.

Formed in 1963, the Monash University Baseball Club is one of the University’s oldest and most successful sporting clubs, with more than 20 premiership pennants.

“I expect our club will be resilient enough to not let the loss of our beloved home affect us deeply on and off the field,” Mr Chiu said. 

“Our off-field club culture remains strong and [we are] focused on appropriately farewelling the dome this week.”

The celebrations included a special final game with more than 25 of the club’s greatest legends and a home run derby, where past and present club members swung for the fences.

The festivities were open to the 100 active playing and non-playing members as well as past players, some who travelled from as far as the US to take part.

Alec Kahn, a club member since 1973 who participated in the legends game, said he was sad at the loss. 

“It’s been fantastic fun the whole time I’ve been here,” Mr Kahn said.

It was announced last Christmas that the club would be losing its home ground, as Monash University and the Victorian Government teamed up to build a landmark facility for cardiac care.

Mark Jeanes, a member of the club since 1990, said he was disappointed but understood the need for the change.

“We’re gutted that the club house is going to be knocked down, but we understand that the heart hospital is something we can’t argue against … it’s now about trying to find a new home,” Mr Jeanes said.

“I’ve met some lifetime friends here. It's a really fantastic community. It's supportive, it's fun, it's fantastic. The whole thing is awesome” 

Expected to be built by 2022, the $543 million project is projected to reduce patient waiting times by up to 18 weeks and will also be open to Monash cardiology students.

A representative from TeamMONASH said the new hospital would nurture current and future generations of the cardiac care force, specifically those graduating from the University.

“Monash students will benefit from learning with pioneering academics and clinicians and with unique exposure to wider Monash University expertise, infrastructure and industry partners,” they said.

The Baseball Club, TeamMONASH and the Monash City Council are working to find a new home for the baseball team.