Nursing a memory Several of the nurse survivors of the Banka Straits tragedy share their stories and personal recollections of the war. Some nurses wrote books, some talk about staying optimistic while being POWs, others say they've never stopped being stunned by the war years. Fifty years after the Banka Straits tragedy and the years the POWs spent in camps in Sumatra, the poignancy has not been dulled, and has been etched into the memories of the nurses who survived. Betty Jeffery, now in her 80's, says that despite the hardships she faced, it change her life for the better. When the ship, the Vyner Broooke, was bombes she was in the water for seventy hours. In the POW camps they slept on concrete floors and starved as food was allowed to rot just out of reach. The nurses that endured so much together have stayed in touch. Betty has also written a highly successful book, 'White Coolies', based on diaries of her experience. Of all the nurses Vivian Bullwinkel is the most celebrated, her story being one of ultimate survival. One of a group of about 100 survivors after the sinking of the Vyner Brooke, she and the others thought the Japanese wouldn't kill such a large number when they surrendered to them. The Australian soldiers were bayonetted, the nurses and civilians were lined up in the sea and shot. Vivian played dead. A tribute to Aussie courage A brief recounting of the sinking of the Vyner Brooke and the survivors' three and a half years as prisoners of war of the Japanese. Of the sixty-five who attempted to evacuate Singapore on the Vyner Brooke, twenty-four made it home to Australia. A memorial to the brave Australian nurses has been organised to ensure their contribution is remembered forever.A large newspaper clipping consisting of two stories with titles and four columns of text each. The larger story also has two black and white photos, on of an older woman holding a book, and the other of two young women leaning in toward each otherww2, wwii, world war two, vivian statham, 13th agh, aif, army nurses, vyner brooke, banka strait, banka straits, florence night, florence nightingale medal, muntok, malacca, iole harper, australian army nurses, wanganella, katong, perth, red cross, english, kingsley, heidelberg repatriation hospital, fairfield hospital, wilma oram, 13th, 13th australian general hospital, murtoa, warrnambool, allies, singapore, johore baru, wilma young, cardinia, jessie simons, in japanese hands - australian nurses as pows, jessie hookaway, tasmania, british, singapore harbour, banka island, empire star, prisoner of war, palembang, sumatra, malay, dutch, ex-prisoners of war association of australia, sir edward 'weary' dunlop, max lee, glen waverley, jenny greer

Vivian Bullwinkel (Mrs Frank Statham), matron of Fairfield Hospital since 1961, is to retire after sixteen years. Born in Kapunda, South Australia, Vivian did her training at the Broken Hill District Hospital from 1934-39, moving on to a private hospital in Hamilton, the Jessie McPherson Hospital, Melbourne, after graduation. She served with the 13th Australian General Hospital, Australian Imperial Force, from 1941 in Singapore and Johore Bahru. Vivian was the sole survivor of the [Banka Island Massacre], followed by three years as a prisoner of war in Sumatra and Banka Island. After the war Vivian was the matron of Heidelberg General Hospital from 1956-60. In 1963 she became trustee for the National War Memorial, Canberra, and was appointed deputy principal commandant of the Australian Red Cross Society.A newspaper clipping consisting of titles, four columns of text and a black and white photo of a middle aged woman outside a building.ww2, wwii, world war two, vivian st, vivian statham, perth, 13th agh, aif, army nurses, vyner brooke, banka strait, banka straits, florence night, florence nightingale medal

Matron (Major) Olive Dorothy PASCHKE No VX38812 enlisted in the AAMC on 3.8.40 age 35 years. Promoted to Matron 8.1.1941, posted to 10th AGH on 11.1.1941, embarked for Malaya 3.2.1941 disembarking 18.2.1941, awarded the RRC 1st Class 1.1.1942 in the New Years Honors list signed by Gordon Bennett, detached to 2/4th CCS on 6.1.1942, embarked from Singapore 12.2.1942 for Australia. She was serving in Singapore when the Japanese invaded. She with many other Nurses during the bombing left on the ill fated "Vyner Brooke" which was later bombed by the Japanese in the Sundra Straits near Banka Island. Abandoning the ship she and 5 other Nurses drifted away on a raft and never seen again on 14.2.42. Many others became POW,s, drowned or murdered by the Japanese. Her records state believed killed on or after 11.2.142 dated 8.6.1944 then Now reported missing and for official purposes presumed dead, dated 11.4.1945. Records state she was granted the promotion of Major in 1943. CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) RRC ( Royal Red Cross) AGH (Australian General Hospital)Five page "order of service" re the unveiling of a memorial to "Matron O.D. Paschke RRC AANS 10th Australian General hospital." at the Dimboola Memorial High school." A sepia tone photo of O.D Paschke is stapled inside the order of service." printing is in blue & Brown. Front page has the Australian coat of arms at the top.documents - pamphlets, religon - christian, paschke, pow