Monash Memo - 11 July 2001

Back to this edition's story list

Monash honours war hero

Monash is to honour Australian World War II nursing heroine Sister Vivian Bullwinkel with the establishment of a Clinical Chair in Palliative Care in her name.

And in an effort to raise funds for the professorial chair, Mrs Enid Walpole, a former nurse and colleague of Sister Bullwinkel, told a recent RSL state conference of her friend's heroic actions.

"Sister Bullwinkel was the sole survivor of a World War II Japanese massacre and endured more than three years of failing health as a prisoner of war tending to the needs of fellow prisoners," said Mrs Walpole.

"She hid the wound received during the massacre with a water bottle in order not to be identified as a survivor and witness and therefore be shot."

Mrs Walpole described Sister Bullwinkel, who died in July last year, as an exceptional nurse made a difference to the lives of the service men and women in her care, her patients, returned service men and women and their families and the professional lives of nurses.

Brochures about the professorship, which aims to enhance and develop the national and international reputation of palliative care research, education and service, were distributed to conference delegates.

Ita Buttrose will officially launch the appeal at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance next month.

Caption: Mrs Enid Walpole and School of Nursing lecturer Ms Susan Lee.