Recognised as one of Australia’s most well-known women in History, Vivian Bullwinkle is a beacon of hope and a symbol of strength, devotion and resilience for nursing.
Born on the 18th
of December 1915 in Kapunda, South Australia, Vivian grew up in Broken Hill, NSW where she began her training as a nurse and midwife in 1934. Vivian started her nursing career in 1939 at the Kia-Ora Hospital in Hamilton, Victoria and eventually moved to Melbourne to enlist during the outbreak of war, working for some time at the Jessie MacPherson Hospital.
In May 1941, Vivian enlisted for the Australian Army Nursing Services (AANS) and sailed for Singapore, posted to the 13th
Australian General Hospital. By February 1942, Vivian alongside 65 fellow nurses boarded the SS Vyner Brooke which was sunk by Japanese soldiers. Together with 21 other nurses, Vivian drifted ashore to Bangka Island where they surrendered to the Japanese before they were executed.
As the sole survivor of the massacre, Vivian found a wounded British soldier off the shore and proceeded to hide for several weeks in the jungle prior to surrendering to the Japanese. Vivian alongside other Australian nurses became Prisoners of War. Following World War II, Vivian retired from the Army in 1947. Vivian re-joined the Citizen Military Forces in 1955 and served until 1970, eventually retiring as Lieutenant Colonel.
Post-war, Vivian worked in Melbourne’s Fairfield Hospital for sixteen years as a Matron and seven years as a Director in Nursing. In 1973 she was President of the College of Nursing Australia. She retired in 1977 and married Colonel F.W. Statham eventually to Perth, dedicating the remainder of her life to the nursing profession and honouring those killed in war by raising funds and serving on various committees. Vivian passed away in July 2000
Question: Identify and describe one value and one attribute that Vivian Bullwinkle displayed as a nurse leader. Provide an example of how she demonstrated this.