Tuesday, 22 February 2022

Ministers statements: Bangka Island massacre anniversary

Mr LEANE (Eastern Metropolitan—Minister for Local Government, Minister for Suburban Development, Minister for Veterans) (12:10): Today I would like to update the house on the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Bangka Island massacre in Indonesia in 1942. On Sunday, 20 February, the shrine’s last post service, sponsored by the Victorian government, remembered the service and sacrifice of 21 nurses and nearly 60 soldiers and crew members who were killed. Vivian Bullwinkel was the only nurse to survive the massacre on Wednesday, 16 February 1942. Up to 80 people died at Radji Beach, including 21 Australian Army nurses, other military personnel and civilian men and women. Many people have heard of Vivian Bullwinkel, and her legacy lives on through the fantastic Vivian Bullwinkel centre that is run by Legacy and its partners, including the RSL.

I would like to talk about another brave Australian who was also remembered on 16 February. Sister Elaine Balfour-Ogilvy on 13 September 1940 had trained as a nursing sister. Elaine enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, becoming a 1st district army nurse. Elaine and others, after a number of soldiers were shot and killed, were determined to stay with their patients, which resulted in the end of their own lives. We owe every one of these nurses who sacrificed so much, as well as our defence personnel past, present and future, our eternal gratitude.