Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, young people…

Before I begin I would like to acknowledge that we gather on the land of the palawa/pakana, the original and traditional owners of this land, our beautiful home…lutrawita/Tasmania. I would like pay my respects to elders past and present and extend that respect to all first nations people with us today.

As we gather today to honour the bravery, sacrifice and resilience of those who have served and died for our country, we also give thanks for those who continue to strive for our freedom.

Thank you for the opportunity to address you today…

I invite you to pause, to reflect on a story of courage and survival that unfolded in the darkest of circumstances during World War 2

This is the story of one of Australia’s greatest nurses.

It is the story of Vivian Bullwinkel and the horrific events of the Bangka Island Massacre, a poignant, often untold and overlooked chapter of our wartime history.

Vivian enlisted in 1941 at 25 years of age and was deployed to Singapore later that year. In February 1942, Vivian and her colleagues were part of a mass evacuation of Allied Forces and civilians from Singapore as a result of the advancing Japanese army.

The nurses wanted to stay to respond to the large number of casualties after relentless shelling and raids, but they were threatened with court-martial if they refused to be evacuated.

Matron Drummond chose half of the nursing group to leave on the ‘Empire Star’. With tears, hugs and kisses, Matron and the remaining nurses including Vivian, farewelled them with a wave on February 11.

On February 12, just hours after the departure of the Empire Star, Vivian was advised that she and the remaining nurses would be evacuated immediately. An hour after the order, the nurses were ready to go… smartly dressed in their grey uniforms… some sobbing at the thought of leaving injured soldiers behind, overcome with feelings of guilt and shame. Such was their dedication and commitment.

In the late afternoon, onboard the SS ‘Vyner Brook’, Vivian looked back at Singapore, illuminated by fires in the distance. Despite fleeing danger, they were not safe.

On the afternoon of February 14, the Vyner Brook was targeted from the air. The order to ‘abandon ship’ came while Vivien and her colleagues were treating the horrific injuries around her, those who were mobile joined them – sadly others were left behind…

They may have survived the bombing of the Vyner Brook but could they survive the swim and shark infested waters as they made their way to shores of Bangka Island…

Around 100 survivors, injured, scared, and cold found themselves on Radji Beach Bangka Island. It was February 16…the nurses rallied to do what they could…but they were not safe…

Japanese landing troops took control of the island and found those who had made it to shore. No prisoners would be taken that fateful day, some fought, some prayed…the 22 nurses huddled together before being ordered to line up and march into the sea…

Matron Drummond gave one last pep talk…’Chin up girls, I’m proud of you and I love you all…’ There was chaos then all was still…Just one nurse would survive…

Vivian’s survival was indeed a miracle…the bullet missed her vital organs and while stunned at still being alive, she lay still in the water pretending to be lifeless as her body drifted out to sea…

After some time, the Japanese departed believing that their work was done. Vivian managed to crawl to the safety of the jungle. Coming across a badly injured British airman, the two survived in the jungle for 10 days with the assistance of some local villagers. With little chance of survival in the jungle, they decided to surrender.

They were taken to Muntock Jail where Vivian was surprised to be reunited with Australian nursing colleagues. While she reluctantly shared the events of that fateful day, they collectively agreed to never speak of it again for fear that Vivian’s safety would be at risk given that she was a living witness to the massacre.

Vivian was imprisoned by the Japanese for more than 3 years. She survived years of unspeakable hardship in the most atrocious of environments, trauma, malaria and a near fatal episode of beri-beri …her fight for survival prevailed.

Vivian emerged from the war with incredible strength, not only for herself but also for others. With freedom came a renewed commitment to the memory of her colleagues lost at Radji Beach that day.

She always spoke of the bravery of her colleagues and that their families and indeed Australia should be very proud of each of them…

Vivian was one of many witnesses that gave evidence before the Australian War Crimes Board of Enquiry in October 1945. What courage must that have taken to retell the horrors of the previous years…

And again a year later, Vivian gave evidence at the Tokyo War Crimes Trials – she was initially reluctant to appear at the trial as she was not sure how she would react when surrounded by Japanese people but, Vivian felt compelled to see that justice was served.

As peace was restored and the years passed, Vivian became a giant of Australian nursing receiving many awards and honours:

- the Florence Nightingale Medal and the Order of the Royal Red Cross…

- promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and Commanding Officer of the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps Southern Command until retirement in 1970

- Matron of the Fairfield infectious Diseases Hospital

- President of the Australian College of Nursing

- Member of the British Empire in the Queen’s New Year’s Day Honours List

And even at sixty years of age, Vivian agreed to be the nursing leader of ‘Operation Babylift’ – the mass rescue of young orphans during the Vietnam War.

Vivian’s story is a reminder of the terrible cost of war and the immense courage shown by those who endure the most unimaginable circumstances.

It is a testament to the selflessness of nurses who gave their lives in the service of others, and a reflection of the strength that lies within the human spirit to survive and to rebuild…

The nurses who perished on Bangka Island did not die in vain. Their memory lives on in those of us who share the story, and in the lives of the generations that follow.

To this end, the Australian College of Nursing fund raised to commission the casting of a bronze statue of Lt Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel to be installed at the Australian War Memorial, the first Australian female and nurse to be commemorated in this way.

At the unveiling of the statue in the grounds of the War Memorial in Canberra in 2023, the CEO of the College said… “Recent years have reminded us that nurses work when and where others don’t or won’t. Our military nursing colleagues take it one step further; they are loyal to the profession and the country, prepared to ensure that our military personnel have the care that they need as well as carrying out their own humanitarian duties…”

The College has established 22 scholarships in honour of Vivian and the 21 nurses who did not come home…

As we reflect this ANZAC Day, I honour all military nurses and thank them for their service. The values of professionalism, dedication and commitment make me proud to be a part of this profession.

I am grateful for the opportunity to share the story of Vivian Bullwinkel whose courage in the face of brutality is unmeasured and to honour those who died on Bangka Island.

Vivian’s story is greater than the few minutes we have shared today – an exceptional Australian nurse whose life of service we acknowledge on this ANZAC Day.

We salute the bravery of Lt Col Vivian Bullwinkel, a true Australian hero...

Thank you for listening…

LEST WE FORGET.

ANZAC Day address: by Associate Professor Francine Douce – at The Cenotaph, Lenah Valley RSL
Source: Associate Professor Francine Douce, Chief Nurse and Midwife, Department of Health Tasmania, Friday 25th April 2025

...with thanks.