The brain behind the cranium

Patrick is one of four winners of the Name the Cranes competition, a joint initiative between construction firm Lend Lease, Exemplar Health and Bendigo Health. 

Patrick is proud of his witty name for a crane.

"I think mine was the best name because all the others were just names. I put more thought into mine," he said.

Patrick missed the official crane-naming event but was invited for a visit by the competition organisers on Wednesday.

He said he learned something  about crane drivers he didn't know before.

"Some have kettles up there and microwaves," he said.

But Patrick was content to admire the crane from ground level.

"I'm scared of heights," he said.

The year 8 high school student said he hoped to become a mechanic one day.

Mother Clare Schilling said this was not surprising because he and his three brothers were obsessed with cars.

"I think he would like a job with his hands," she said.

As one of five children, Ms Schilling said winning the crane naming contest was fantastic for her son.

"He doesn't tend to win things so this was a really really big deal for him," Ms Schilling said.

"He was very pleased and it was something that his brothers and sister didn't do."

Ms Schilling said Patrick had come up with the name Cranium almost instantly.

"He was determined that it was going to be Cranium and he was determined he was going to win it," she said.

"I thought it was a brilliant name."

Ms Schilling said it was nice of the competition organisers to arrange a site visit just for Patrick.

"They were really good to do it, they were really good to him," she said.

Health Minister David Davis said during his recent visit to the hospital site that Cranium was a clever name.

Northern Victoria state liberal member Amanda Millar said the competition was a great way to connect the community with the hospital project.