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After more than forty years of helping the sick, the needy and the aged, Judy Cockburn has been rewarded with an Order of Australia Medal. Judy says she is not one for the limelight and her greatest satisfaction comes from helping the aged. She said that while it can be very emotionally exhausting, she has formed some close relationships over the years. Judy moved to Essendon thirty-five years ago from Sydney after working as a welfare matron at the Austral Bronze foundry. She was in the first group of Australian Army nurses sent overseas in 1939. She served in a Palastine base hospital for four years. After the war Judy did home visits, being on call day and night; was on the Essendon Hospital Committee; worked in the hospital's opportunity shop; was a founding member of the Citizens Advice Bureau; was involved in the opening of Corandirk Hostel and continues to volunteer there; is a relief worker at the Essendon Community Centre; is on the committee of the proposed Marivale Nursing Home; visit patients at the Day Hospital; is a Life Member of the Essendon Hospital, the Austin Hospital and the Maribrnong Park Bowls Club; was involved in the establishment of the Boomerang Club and is a grandmother of six.

A newspaper clipping featuring a blue title, two columns of text and a small black and white photo of a woman in bowls uniform

ww2, wwii, oam, ascot vale

First story - Colonel Annie Sage recounts memories that come up on Anzac Day. 'Dressing' their ship while in mid-ocean, listening to 'Australia Will Be There'; the agony and suspense waiting to learn if allies and friends had escaped terrible situations; having patients in beds and under beds in rain, mud and heat; learning awful news; reuniting with POW sisters and hearing their stories. Second story - Mrs GM Knight marched on Anzac Day in the light grey dress of the Auxiliary Nursing Service(ANSI), India. Born in England, she has lived in Australia for 30 years. Her husband, an officer in the RAF, died before WW2. Her two sons joined the army. Mrs Knight went to India and joined the ANSI and served for six years. Third story - Nearly 200 ex-servicewomen took part in the Anzac march. Led by Matron-in-Chief Sage, the grey nurse's uniforms was the signal for cheers and clapping. Mrs E Wildy and Miss Lillian Foster, both Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) during the war also attended.

A newspaper clipping of three stories. The first story consists of three columns of text and includes a small black and white portrait photo of a woman in nurse's uniform. The second story is a single column of text beneath a small black and white portrait photo of a woman in nurse's uniform. The third story is two columns of text underneath the title.

'WWII' [blue ink, top right]

order of the british empire, ans, aans, australian general hospital, australian imperial forces, royal air force, strathaird, ramilles, navy, 2/4 australian general hospital, tobruk, haifa, kantara, greece, crete, islands, 2/9th, moresby, centaur, japanese, singapore, malaya, rabaul, la haat, sumatra, reg knight, sidney knight, irak, persia, st kilda, edith cavell, swadeston, norwich, england, london, imperial ex-service women's association

The matron-in-cjief of the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps(RAANC), Colonel A M Sage, RRC, is to retire from the service. Matron Sage has said the postwar years in nursing have been particularly important. During the war, nurses learnt they could achieve almost anything they set their minds to, and while previously most of them did not have the drive to push for nursing reforms, since the war they have achieved a tremendous for their profession. Achievements such as the Australian College of Nursing, the Melbourne School of Nursing and the War Nurses' Memorial Centre. Annie joined the Army Nursing Service in January of 1940, and as matron of the 2/2nd AGH went to Palestine. Later she was made Principal Matron of the 2nd AIF, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and then Matron-inChief with the rank of colonel. In 1943 she returned to Australia and was made Matron-in-Chief of nurses in all army services. Annie finished her full time service with the army in January of 1947, being appointed matron of the Women's Hospital. Prior to the war Annie had worked for eight years with the Victorian Baby Health Centres Association, four as assistant matron of its training school and four as matron. Up to her retirement from the RAANC Annie will have completed 32 years of nursing.

A newspaper clipping of a story with three columns of text underneath the title, including a small black and white photo portrait of a woman in nurse's uniform

'AGE 11/7/52' [black ink, along top left] 'WWII' [blue ink, top right]

melbourne, royal red cross, raanc, order of the british empire, ans, aans, australian general hospital, australian imperial forces

Somerville's new child-care centre has been named the Annie Sage Child-Care centre. Annie embarked on her nursing career by training at the old Melbourne Hospital, later becoming matron of the Baby Heath Centre Association Training School in Carlton. In World War 2 she was appointed matron-in-chief of the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps and saw service in the Middle East and Pacific areas. Colonel Sage was awarded the CBE, the Red Cross Medal and the Florence Nightingale Medal. Later she appointed lady superintendent of the Women's Hospital. After retirement Annie returned to Somerville.

A newspaper clipping of a story with a large title above three columns of text

'Peninsula Post (Our local paper) 9-12-87' [blue ink, along top]

melbourne, valda cole, hastings historical society, benjamin baxter, baxter, carrup-carrup, carlton, new guinea, borneo, singapore, australian victory contingent, england, london, returned nurses club, hastings council, raanc, order of the british empire

Mementos of the Hamilton Base Hospital's former Matron of have been presented after a series of coincidences. While Mrs Nell Dobson (neeBryant)was travelling through Hamilton, she was invited to attend the nurses graduation ceremony at the hospital, where the Dux of the nurses course received the Gwlady Thomas Prize. Nell first met Matron Thomas in 1934 and again in 1941 when Matron Thomas joined her at the 1st Australian General Hospital at Gaza. Nell kept a diary, describing life as an army nurse, including August 31 when Matron Thomas and Sister McPhail were injured and subsequently died on September 1. Nell continued her diary throughout her war service, including the happier times and many moving moments. Nell later returned to Hamilton to present photo copies of her diary and other momentos of her days serving with Gwladys Thomas to the hospital.

A newspaper clipping of a story consisting of three columns of text beneath the title.

'local paper. 4th June/80' [graphite, along top] Al Matheson was the doctor.' [graphite, down left hand side]

melbourne, wwii, middle east, don dobson, len wilkinson, mrs wilkinson, dunolly, australian imperial forces, aif, tobruk, gaza ridge, al kantara, jerusalem, 2nd 4th australian general hospital, al matheson

1988 marks more than just the Bicentennial if Australia, it also marks the first time returned servicewomen are entitled to full medical and hospital treatment under the repatriation system. Mary, who served in the Middle East recalls living under canvas in snowy conditions. Cate stated that so many people were rushing to return to their families after the war that they didn't mention half the things wrong with them and the paperwork was never done, so many didn't get the treatments they deserved.

A photocopy of a magazine clipping of a single, long column of text that includes a small black and white photo of two older women holding a book between them.

ww2, wwii, voluntary aid detachment, jerusalem, northern territory, japan

The Victorian Returned Services League(RSL) presented a Festival of Empire and Remembrance. The RSL Memoriall Band played martial airs as all branches of the services and representatives from all parts if the Empire marched down the centre aisle to take their seats on the stage. In attendance were many official guests as well as decorated personnel of three wars - Mr Roger James, who won the Victoria Cross(VC) in 1901 in the Boer War; Mr Mcarthy, awarded the VC for bravery in France in 1918; Sister Vivian Bullwinkel, Associate of the Royal Red Cross and Florence Nightingale Medal; Sister Margaret who was awarded the George Medal.

A newspaper clipping of a large black and white photo of two older men and two young women in nurse's uniform with a single column of text beneath

melbourne, town hall, edmund herring, mary ranken lyle, mary herring, john cain, dorothea vera marie grindrod, dorothea cain, mrs williams, gw holland, ww1, wwi, ww2, wwii

Gardening apprentices, including Leslie Hill, have created a new flower bed opposite Victoria Barracks with The Nursing Corps badge in the centre for the 80th anniversary of the Royal Australian Nursing Corps. Mrs Trigellis-Smith, MBE, 90, who served as a nurse in WW1 posed for a picture with Leslie.

A newspaper clipping of a large black and white photo above two small columns of text. The photo is of a young man and an older woman standing in front of a flower garden.

'1983' [blue ink, top left] 'H34138[crossed out]' [blue ink, top right]

melbourne, beryl randall trigellis-smith, beryl sampson, wwi, world war 1

Front page - Governor, Sir Dallas Brooks, opens the War Nurses' Memorial Centre on St Kilda Road. The centre is a memorial to the 75 Australian nurses who lost their lives in the war. The centre will offer various rooms for use and house the the headquarters of the Australian College of Nursing. General Sir Thomas Blamey, chairman of the Centre Committee said there was hardly a fighting soldier who had not at some time experienced the care and devotion to duty of the service sisters. Back page - Left hand clipping - About 500 people, including more than 100 service and civilian nurses attended the ceremony that opened the War Nurses Memorial Centre. The centre is a refurbished and converted house. The crowd also included former POWs and relatives of the 75 nursing sisters who lost their lives in the 1939-45 war. Dr Garnet Leary gave 100 pounds towards the establishment of a nurses' library in the centre. Back page - Right hand clippings - top - The author heard a service broadcasted from St Paul's Cathedral and felt overwhelming gratitude towards nurses. bottom - After the dedication of the War Nurses Memorial Centre, the author was reminded of two instances of senseless loss of nurses' live during the war. May 1943, the Australian hospital ship, the Centaur, was torpedoed by the Japanese, resulting in 299 dead, eleven of them nurses, and only 64 survivors. Also the Banka massacre, where 22 nurses were shot by the Japanese, after surviving the sinking of their ship. Only one nurse survived the massacre.

Three newspaper clippings have been glued to either side of a lined sheet of paper. Front of page - A newspaper clipping of two black and white photos and a short story in two columns. the larger photo is of two men in military uniform walking through women in nurses uniforms lined up on either side of a path. The smaller photo is of three women, all wearing nurse's uniforms, one woman holding a tray with cups. Back of page -Two newspaper clippings have been glued to a lined sheet of paper. The left hand clipping consists of a large black and white photo of a crowd of people and nurses outside a nice house, and a column of text. The right hand clipping is of two separate paragraphs of text, both appear to be letters to the editor.

'Feb 19 50.' [blue ink, front of page, top right]

melbourne, wwii, ww2, st kilda road, muriel violet turner laing, thomas blamey, annie moriah sage, muriel brooks, queensland, vivian bullwinkel, heidelberg military hospital

Front page - The large photo is of nurses in uniform, marching more than 20 abreast. They join the [26,000] who were taking part in the Anzac Day march to the Shrine of Remembrance. Back page - Governor, Sir Dallas Brooks, opens the War Nurses' Memorial Centre on Feb 19 1950. A large crowd included those from the nursing and medical professions, the services as well as Lady and Miss Brooks and other dignitaries. During the service of dedication two addresses were given, with Miss Sage, Matron in Chief of the Royal Australian Army Nursing Service (RAANS), speaking on the courage, loyalty and devotion to duty that the nurses showed during the 1939-46 war. Miss Betty Jeffrey is the administrative officer of the centre that is available for use by all nursing organisations, including accommodations for nurses travelling from the country or out of state.

Two newspaper clippings have been glued to either side of a lined sheet of paper. Front of page - a torn newspaper clipping of part of a title, a large black and white photo of women in nurse's uniforms marching and a caption. Back of page - a newspaper clipping of a black and white photo of a man in military uniform listening to four women in nurse's uniforms, with a story of two columns of text

'Feb. 19th 1950' [blue ink, back of page, lower left]

melbourne, wwii, ww2, st kilda road, jeanette brooks, muriel violet turner laing, thomas blamey, annie moriah sage, john latham, eleanor mary (ella) tobin, muriel brooks, eleanor latham, edmund herring, sydney fairbairn rowell, blanche may murison, blanche rowell, kingsley norris, richard gavin gardiner casey, ethel marian sumner (maie) ryan, ethel casey, kent hughes, edith kerr, edith hughes, college of nursing, australian nursing conference, melbourne town hall

The clipping is cut close around the two photos and the caption, which relates to the inset photo. It is of Sister F. E. Henry who travelled in the train with wounded from Darwin.

A newspaper clipping of a large black and white photo of a man on a stretcher being loaded on a train. The smaller inset photo is of a woman in nurse's uniform lighting the cigarette of a man in a bed.

melbourne

The story is about matrons from 25 city and country hospitals having traveled to get together to pool their problems. Some delegates had traveled over 100 miles, and some from the country said it was difficult to leave their short-staffed hospitals. The photo features Miss E.L. Shaw, lady superintendent of the Alfred Hospital

A newspaper clipping of a short story of two columns above a large black and white photo of a woman holding a cigarette in her mouth, with a caption underneath

' 6-4-51. ' [blue ink, right hand side, towards the top]

melbourne, edith lydia shaw, lydia shaw

The clipping features photos of Australian nursing sisters and Australian Army Medical Women's Service (AAMWS) leaving by troop train to Sydney and then Singapore to care for Australian POWs.

A photocopy of a newspaper clipping consisting of two large black and white photos and a caption beneath

'Aug 23rd 1945' [written on original and appears here photocopied, down right hand side]

ww2, wwii, world war two, m lloyd, wm marrie, m stockwell, b brooking, wf beckett, en doig, em jones

Brief article announcing the naming of a hostel wing at Maldon's hospital (Jessie Bowe house), describing the facility and giving brief biographical details of the namesake Ethel Jessie Bowe.

A card with a picture of colorful flowers, framed by stripes, sitting to the right of a newspaper clipping with a headline and single column of text

ethel jessie bowe, maldon, victoria, royal australian army nursing corps

This card was sent to the Returned Nurses Club along with a newspaper clipping about a hostel wing being named after Ethel Jessie Bowe. The card and clipping were sent by 'Fergie' [?] Ferguson.

A card with a picture of colorful flowers, framed by stripes, sitting to the right of a newspaper clipping with a headline and single column of text

'H76' [blue ink on back] 'Bellhaven Hoste / 547 Bell Street / Preston 3072 / Dear Katie / The enclosed paper / cutting from the Maldon / Times, may be of some / interest to the Club members. / I understand the new / Hostel Wing is very nice, / most comfortable & very / modern. / With all good wishes & / kindest regards / "Fergie" / [?] Ferguson' [blue ink, inside left]

fergie, ferguson, ethel jessie bowe, maldon, victoria

Mrs Rita Rees and Lt Lindsay Trapnell discuss the Anzac service from the previous day. Mrs Rees served with the 2nd 7th Australian General Hospital.

A newspaper clipping of a large black and white photo of an older woman wearing war medals looking at a man in army uniform, with a caption underneath

'WWII.' [blue ink, top]

ww2, wwii, middle east, new guinea, japan

Mr and Mrs Allen traveled to Puckapunyal Army Camp where a canteen was named after Mr Allen. Both the Allens served in World War II. Mrs Allen was a nurse with several units in Malaysia.

A newspaper clipping of a large black and white photo of a woman and a man looking at each other, both wearing war medals, with a title and caption

'BALLARAT COURIER.' [blue ink, along top of the photo]

ww2, wwii, les allen, bull allen, jean elizabeth floyd, jean allen

The story is mostly a quote from Mollie Edwards, who was a captain in the 2nd/5th Australian General Hospital. She served in a 1200 bed field hospital tent, near the front in the Middle East, Greece, Crete, Syria, New Guinea, and Morotai. Mollie talks about her evacuation from the hospital in Greece. She was one of the forty nurses told to leave, leaving forty to be taken as POWs. Leaving her patients was one of the hardest things she had to do during the war. Mollie goes on to detail her most horrific war experience, in New Guinea, when a bomber laden with bombs and fuel crashed into the 33rd Battalion as it waited on the edge of the airstrip. Eighty men were incinerated with many more horribly burned. Despite her experiences, Mollie says she was privileged to serve, gaining lifelong friendships.

An a4 page from a magazine of an inset story that features a medium black and white photo of women in the back of an an army truck above two columns of text.

' 'The Age' WEEKEND / Aug 26[carrot]th 1989' [blue ink, along top of page]

german, ww2, wwii, athens, hmas voyager

The Victorian Ex Servicewomen's Bicentennial Bowls Tournament was also a celebration for the bowlers who, 45 years earlier were contributing to Australia's war effort. Lorna Gorman, 79, who has received the Life Member of Melbourne WAAAF Branch, Royal Australian Air Force Association, Victoria Division award for services rendered over many years. Joan Wicks, 72, was on the first ship to leave Australia, after Japan entered the war in 1941, and joined the 2/1st Australian General Hospital at Gaza. After serving throughout the war she was awarded the Florence Nightingale Scholarship and on completion took up the position of Matron of the Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne. Olive Jepson joined the Royal Australian Nursing Service in early 1942 and was attached to the 2/11th Australian General Hospital in Bonegilla.

A page from a magazine consisting of two large black and white photos of women in bowls uniforms and three columns of text. The upper photo is of three women having a cup of tea and a laugh, with the lower photo depicting eight women holding the Bicentennial flag.

[red ink line down the left side of a paragraph of text, left side, middle] [red ink line down the left side of a paragraph of text, middle, lower] 'Archie Webster 580 1815' [blue ink, bottom right]

mckinnon bowls club, joan norton, jack smith, eileen mclean memorial plaque, jess whitehead, vi smith, may johnson, edna myers, ww2, wwii, middle east, western australia, new guinea, bouganville, heidelberg military hospital, buna, joy livingston, heather hall, betty craft, cath nimon, nance pownall, audrie webster, jeanne mathews, joan flower

Matron Vivian Bullwinkel flew from Perth to Fairfield Hospital to witness the last graduates of the Basic Nursing and Aide/Enrolled Nurse Training program before training is turned over to colleges. Vivian set up the training program when she was the director of nursing at Fairfield, between 1961 and 1977. With this final class, the total graduates of the program reached 1195. Vivian acknowledged that while medicine and treatment as evolved with the times there is one thing that hasn't changed: people's needs. The nature of nursing means getting close to people and this was never more apparent than when in a Japanese POW camp Vivian and other fellow nurses were approached by another POW of a different nationality requesting help as they trusted them, not the people in authority.

A newspaper clipping of a large black and white photo of an older woman standing in front of a large group of younger men and women in nursing uniforms above four columns of text

'Herald 16.11.89.' [black ink, along top]

world war two, ww2, wwii, vivian statham, michael compton, leanne cassidy

Letter dated 1/10/40 from the Lt-Col, CO 2/11 Field Regiment to notify Mrs Carkeek of the ongoing illness of her husband. The letter urges her to prepare for the worst and that if she travels to where he is hospitalised that she will not be permitted to see him.

A4 photocopy of a typed notification of serious illness letter from Australian Military Forces - Southern Command, to the civilian wife.

wwii, ww2, world war 2, gunner oj carkeek, bonegilla

Clipping one - 'Meningitis case in Bonegilla area' - A case of cerebro-spinal meningitis was reported from the troops on the Bonegilla military camp. The man was recovering, said the Deputy-Director of Medical Services, Southern Command,with all precautions against the spread being taken, including isolation of contacts and the unit. Colonel Shaw went on to emphasise that there was no need for alarm as the disease did not appear to present in epidemic form and the likelihood that it would assume epidemic proportions reduced every week. Clipping two - 'Deaths in army casualty list' - Army casualty lists for Victoria and New South Wales. Victoria - In Australia: Gunner J Burgess, Pte WH Chute: died of illness; Pte AD Mathers, Pte W Walsh: placed on dangerously ill list; Gunner OJ Carkeek: removed from seriosly ill list; Abroad: Pte JW Bruce: placed on dangerously ill list; Pte JW Nuttall: removed from seriusly ill list. New South Wales: Abroad: Pte EJ Maples: accidentally killed; Gunner AAGV Peterson: placed on seriously ill list.

A photocopied page of two single column newspaper clippings from separate newspapers beneath a black and white photo of a woman in nurse's uniform and three men standing in front of a tent.

'SEPT 1940' [blue ink, left side middle' 'CAPT. DON / BROWN / SISTER B. / HAYNES / GUNNER / CARKEEK / (PATIENT) / PTE. DE [MM]' [blue ink, right side middle] 'PATIENT / RE[CORDED/COVERED] / A[?ded] / OUT of ARMY / RE-EnlistED / AnD SERVED / In SAME[underlined] LM[E/] / [line leading into clipping text] 9211 FD. Reg. / IM ME.' [blue ink right side, lower] [line indicating a line in the text, blue ink, middle lower]

lydia shaw, edith lydia shaw, artillery, infantry, engineers, ww2, wwii, world war two

Betty Jeffery and Beryl Woodbridge were among the war nurses who marched in the 1952 Anzac march. The two nurses were both Japanese POWs for three years. Kath McMillan and Betty Pump who served with them in the 2/10 Australian General Hospital (AGH) also marched. Matron-in-Chief Sage let the procession that also included Miss Edna Shaw, Lady Superintendent of the Alfred Hospital. An English ex-pat, Kathleen Carpenter, who served in the Queen Alexandra Imperial Nursing Service Reserve, having settled in Australia after being demobilised, also marched.

A newspaper clipping from a larger sheet consisting of a title above a large black and white photo of a large group of women in uniform marching together down a street. The story has been cut off.

'[down arrow] MRS (JOHNS) SHIPPEN' [blue ink, upper left hand side] '(Black Armbands respect for late King.) George. VI)' [blue ink upper left hand side] 'Miss HANNAH / Alford Hosp.' [graphite, lower left hand side] 'Miss E [R] SHAW / Alford Hosp.' [graphite, lower left hand side]

annie moriah sage, british army, italy, west africa, north nigeria, willaura district hospital, peggy wall, foncie smith, egypt, palestine, greece, aip, british expeditionary force, bef

The farewell party for Col Annie Sage, retiring Matron-in-Chief of the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps (RAANC) brought together principal matrons of every Army Command in Australia, as part of the 250 guests. Guests included nurses from many parts of Australia, as well as the Chief of the General Staff, Minister for the Army and the former Director-General of Army Medical Services. A brooch was presented to Miss Sage on behalf of friends in and out of the profession by the former Director-General, who said "Miss Sage was one of the most outstanding examples of leadership I have ever seen." Miss Sage also received telegrams from well wishers..

A newspaper clipping from a larger page, consisting of three columns of text next to a black and white photo of a group of women, one of which is presenting something to another.

'NC3' [blue ink, top left, front of page] 'NC3' [blue ink, top right, back of page]

annie moriah sage, sydney fairbairn rowell, josiah francis, samuel burston, harry crowe, vivien bullwinkel, banka island, g m taylor, c a fall, jean elsie ferguson, joan stevenson abbott, c a kestal, edith lydia shaw

Information page detailing the history of Sages Cottage from building in 1853/56 as a homestead, to being purchased in 1976 by the Victoria Conservation Trust. John Edward Sage built the cottage as the homestead for his farm "Eurutta" in 1856. John lived in the cottage with his wife and children up until his death in 1908 with his wife, Maria Sage (nee Baxter) continuing to live there until her death in 1927. Their youngest son, Thomas Holden Sage, and three daughters, Fanny Martha, Annie Agususta and Ellen Amynta continued to live there until their deaths. Thomas died in 1960 but gifted the remaining block of land with the cottage to his [niece?] Annie Moriah Sage a year before his death. Annie was Matron of the Australian Military Forces (AMF) in WW2. [Annie was born in 1895 as the fifth child to Edward Arthur and Mary Anne Sage. She trained in nursing, obtaining her nursing certificate in 1926. 1940 saw Annie join the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS), Australian Imperial Force (AIF). During WWII Annie served as matron for the 2nd/2nd Australian General Hospital in the Middle East. She was made matron-in-chief, AIF (Middle East) in 1940, and was appointed a member of the Red Cross in 1942. Returning to Australia in 1942, she was elevated to deputy matron-in-chief, AMF in February 1943, and sub-sequentially promoted to colonel in March. Her duties included organising the AANS for duty in the South-West Pacific Area and oversaw the training scheme for the Australian Army Medical Women's Service (AAMWS). In September 1945 Annie flew to Sumatra to assist with the repatriation of the twenty four Australian nurses imprisoned by the Japanese. For her war service she was awarded the Florence Nightingale medal (1947) by the International Red Cross. In 1951 she was appointed Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE).] After Annie's death in 1969 the cottage and land went to a nephew and two nieces, before being purchased in 1976 by the Victoria Conservation Trust as an example of early settlement history.

A printed information document in black ink on white paper, with an address in the upper left and opening times and refreshments available in the upper right. Below and over the page is full width text.

'NC.3' [red ink top left hand corner of front page] '059 7111 3577 [?] Alastair Herbert / & / [?] Camilla [Hapfor]' [blue ink, top if second page]

wwii, world war 2

At a historic gathering of past and present Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps (RAANC) nurses were in attendance at the dedication and unveiling of the RAANC's badged door at the Solider's Chapel at Kapooka, the first dedication of a corps door there. Col Coralie Gerrard, DNS-A spoke of the history of nurses in the Army. The first nurses served with troops in 1898 with the Australian Nursing Service (ANS) being formed 1902. Nurses have continued to serve in all wars where Australians have served. Lt-Col Ian Mawson, Deputy Comdt 1RTB, gave the opening address. Guests included nurses who had served in Australia and overseas in WW2 as well as those who served in Japan, Korea, Malaya, Vietnam, Singapore and New Guinea between 1946 and 1980 and in recent UN deployments. It was a wonderful occasion for past and present nurses to meet and talk about their Army nursing experiences.

A photocopied news paper clipping of an article with a large black and white photo of a group of women standing in front of a building above two columns of text and a smaller black a white photo of an army colonel and a chaplain

ww2, wwii, melbourne, canberra, sydney, angus mcdonald, carmelo sciberras, gary kenney, wilma young, wilma jones [oram young]

The caption beneath the photos names Mrs Wilma Young (nee Oram) and Mrs Vivian Statham (nee Bullwinkel) who were at a reunion for their unit where they had a common bond as wartime nurses and POWs.

A newspaper clipping of a large black and white photo featuring two older women holding wine glasses and standing in front of the 13th Australian General Hosptial's flag

ww2, wwii, wilma jones, japanese, 13th australian general hospital, hilton hotel

The letter to editor is written from L. D. Emerson-Elliot. The writer commends Australian nurses who shared in the danger of air and ground attacks in Singapore by the Japanese in 1942. They go on to detail the a particular incident when the ship they were on was under heavy air attack. The captain sent them to check on the nurses and their charges. Through the horror of blasted metal, blood and shattered bodies the nurses were quietly and steadfastly continuing their work. The writer states that Sister Anderson received the George Medal for that day, but that they believe that all nurses who have served in wars deserve a memorial. They had heard that a submission was made for a memorial for military nurses on Anzac Parade, Canberra, but that for almost a year nothing had happened.

Photocopied news paper clipping of a letter to the editor consisting of three columns of text under a title

'009/04 '96 11:00 [phone symbol] 06 266 4982 DGAFHS [symbol] 002' [typed/printed before photocopied, along top] 'THE CANBERRA TIMES 9 APR 96' [written before photocpied, centre top] 'Page 8' [blue ink top, following photocopied writing' [paragraph at the end of the second column and beginning of the third column is highlighted, yellow ink] 'Sign letter, give your full address and . / phone number. Not more than 250 words' [blue ink, centre below clipping] 'Address' [underlined, blue ink, bottom left] 'Letters to the Editor / The Canberra Times / PO Box 7155 / Canberra Mail Centre / ACT' [blue ink, bottom left]

ww2, wwii, mv empire star, captain capon, sister anderson, royal college of nursing australia, national capital planning authority, charnwood

The article details the war time recollections of Vivian Bullwinkel, sole survivor of the Japanese massacre of Australian nurses in 1942. The Australian Army nurses, with 200 civilians, were aboard the SS Vyner Brook when the Japanese bombed and sank the ship. After ten hours, twenty four nurses survived to make it ashore on Banka Island. The Japanese took them prisoner and then proceeded to shoot them all, after first bayoneting forty Bristish prisoners. Vivian was shot in the side and pretended she was dead. Vivian credits her initial survival to the duty she felt to a fellow survivor of the massacre, a British man. They then had to make the decision that giving themselves up to the Japanese was their best chance of survival. After threes years as a POW Vivian had lost alot of weight and seen many die, but she had continued to care for those that were her patients. More than 50 years later Vivian is to return to Banka Island as and honoured guest of Indonesia, to chose the site of of a memorial to her dead comrades. Vivian avoids talking in detail about her POW experiences but she does have strong views on selling Australian land to Japanese investors. The Japanese government had recently apologised for the atrocities they committed, but Vivian believes the apology was not specific enough.

First page of a magazine clipping consisting of a large title with two columns of text next to a colour reproduction of a painting of a nurse Second page of a magazine clipping consisting of three columns of text under a large colour photo of an older man and woman leaning into each other

'N22' [blue ink, top left, first page]

ww2, wwii, red cross, frank statham, dutch east indies, anzac day

The article details the war time recollections of Vivian Bullwinkel, sole survivor of the Japanese massacre of Australian nurses in 1942. The Australian Army nurses, with 200 civilians, were aboard the SS Vyner Brook when the Japanese bombed and sank the ship. After ten hours, twenty four nurses survived to make it ashore on Banka Island. The Japanese took them prisoner and then proceeded to shoot them all, after first bayoneting forty Bristish prisoners. Vivian was shot in the side and pretended she was dead. Vivian credits her initial survival to the duty she felt to a fellow survivor of the massacre, a British man. They then had to make the decision that giving themselves up to the Japanese was their best chance of survival. After threes years as a POW Vivian had lost alot of weight and seen many die, but she had continued to care for those that were her patients. More than 50 years later Vivian is to return to Banka Island as and honoured guest of Indonesia, to chose the site of of a memorial to her dead comrades. Vivian avoids talking in detail about her POW experiences but she does have strong views on selling Australian land to Japanese investors. The Japanese government had recently apologised for the atrocities they committed, but Vivian believes the apology was not specific enough.

The first page of a magazine article including two columns of text and a colour reproduction of a painting of a woman in nurse's uniform, page one of two

'N22' [blue ink, top right]

ww2, wwii, red cross, frank statham, dutch east indies, anzac day