Lieutenant Colonel Vivian BullwinkelPrint Page

Gallipoli Barracks’ 17^th Brigade Precinct in Brisbane has been renamed the Bullwinkel Lines in honour of World War Two nurse Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel. A monument was also unveiled at the precinct. 

Vivian Bullwinkel was the sole survivor when the Japanese massacred 21 army nurses and one elderly civilian woman on Bangka Island, now part of Indonesia. She was taken POW and survived the hell camps of Sumatra, going on to become one of Australia's most distinguished women.

Vivian retired from the army in 1947 and became Director of Nursing at the Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital. She devoted herself to the nursing profession and to honouring those killed on Bangka Island, raising funds for a nurses' memorial and serving on numerous committees, including a period as a member of the Council of the Australian War Memorial, and later president of the Australian College of Nursing.

She married Colonel Francis West Statham in September 1977, and changed her name to Vivian Statham. She returned to Bangka Island in 1992 to unveil a shrine to the nurses who had not survived the war. She died on 3 July 2000, aged 84, in Perth, Western Australia.

Gallipoli Barracks’ 17^th Brigade Precinct in Brisbane has been renamed the Bullwinkel Lines in honour of World War II nurse Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel. At the unveiling of a monument to coincide with the renaming on September 13, 2nd General Health Battalion nursing officer Lieutenant Kylie Johnston said 17^th Brigade members were proud to further recognise the contribution of Lieutenant Colonel Bullwinkel.

“This ceremony is a testament to the courage that Vivian Bullwinkel showed, not only during her service, but also in her tireless advocacy for nursing and those who served,” Lieutenant Johnston said.

Lieutenant Colonel Bullwinkel is the Australian Defence Force’s most decorated nursing officer, having survived the Bangka Island Massacre where 22 Australian nurses were executed by Japanese forces. She was a prisoner of war for three years, caring for wounded and ill prisoners. After her service, Lieutenant Colonel Bullwinkel led a distinguished career, including serving on the Council of the Australian War Memorial and as Australian College of Nurses president.

Commander of 17^th Brigade, Brigadier Andrew Freeman, said Lieutenant Colonel Bullwinkel represented the Army values of courage and leadership. “Vivian stands for what a true soldier should be and what we should all strive to achieve,” Brigadier Freeman said. "The personnel here at 17^th Brigade are continuing Vivian’s work in health, which was her passion in life."

The precinct named in honour of Lieutenant Colonel Bullwinkel continues to provide combat health support to the Army and provides a unified identity for those 17^th Brigade elements in Gallipoli Barracks.

Nursing officer Lieutenant Celie Bright-Perry said those working in 17^th Brigade would see the monument daily. “Lieutenant Colonel Bullwinkel is an inspiration and this will be a reminder to us every day,” Lieutenant Bright-Perry said.

The renaming of the precinct and unveiling of a large stone monument provided a moment of reflection for Lieutenant Colonel Bullwinkel’s nephew. “This ceremony and monument recognises Vivian’s life’s work and reflects her strong connections to the Army. The personnel here at 17^th Brigade are continuing Vivian’s work in health, which was her passion in life,” Mr Bullwinkel said.
Australian Government, Department of Defence,
23 September 2019.

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