Australian Nurses Memorial Centre

'May they kindle in your hearts a torch whose flame shall be eternal."

Lets We Forget

Happy International Nurses Day!🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

Lest We Forget

The Australian Nurses Memorial Centre ANZAC Commemorative Service will be held on Sunday 19th April 2026 commencing at 2:00pm at the Memorial for Nurses located at Fawkner Towers forecourt, 431 St Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC 3004.
We invite you to lay a wreath or flowers on behalf of your family or organisation in memory of all the nurses who served. RSVP via our calendar.
The ANMC will lay a Collaborative Wreath, to which you may contribute through a donation to the ANMC Scholarship Fund.

Anzac Day Commemorative Service 2026 | ANMC Anzac Day Commemorative Service 2026 The ANMC ANZAC Commemorative Service will commence at 2:00pm. There will be a wreath laying ceremony followed by afternoon tea and a guest speaker. Sunday 19th of April 2026 from 2:00pm Fawkner Towers Forecourt, 431 St Kilda Rd Instead of purchasing a wreath, con...

Looking for some great books to read over the Easter weekend!
"Sisters in Captivity. Sister Betty Jeffrey OAM and the courageous story of Australian Army nurses in Sumatra, 1942-1945" author Colin Burgess.
"The Evacuation of Singapore to the Prison Camps of Sumatra" author Judy Balcombe.
"Back to Bangka. Searching for the truth about wartime massacre" author Georgina Banks.
'Sister Viv" author Grantlee Kieza.
"On Radji Beach" author Ian Shaw
"Courage be my Friend: The Vivian Bullwinkel Story" author Jenny Davis.

Have a safe and restful Easter weekend.

Caroline and Bud were among the last 65 Australian nurses to evacuate Singapore on 12 February 1942 on the Vyner Brooke. The ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft and crippled by bombs, rolling over and sinking bow first. Of the 65 Australian nurses, 12 were killed during the air attack or drowned following the sinking, 21 were murdered on Radji Beach, and 32 became internees, 8 of whom subsequently died before the end of the war.
THE FATE OF SISTER DOROTHY GWENDOLINE ELMES
NFX7O526, 2/1Oth Australian General Hospital, Australian Army
Nursing Service (AANS)
Sister Elmes was one of 22 nurses who were washed ashore on Radji Beach, Bangka Island. On 16 February 1942 the nurses were ordered to march into the sea where they were shot.
THE FATE OF SISTER CAROLINE MARY ENNIS
VFX38751, 2/1Oth Australian General Hospital, Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS)
Sister Ennis, was one of twelve nurses who were lost at sea. She was washed out to sea on a raft holding two small children on her lap, along with Matron Paschke and Sisters Trenery, McDonald. Dorsch and Clarke. They were never seen again.

On behalf of the Honouring Our Oxley Shire WWII Nurses committee, the ANMC is honoured to share the invitation for this special moment as we pay tribute to their lives and contributions:
📅 Saturday, 28 March 2026
🕚 11:00 AM
📍 Oxley Memorial Park, 68 King St, Oxley VIC
This unveiling is a heartfelt opportunity to remember, reflect, and celebrate two remarkable women who served with unwavering dedication.

VALE Emeritus Professor Maxine Duke AM

84th Commemorative service at Radji Beach Banka Island.
We Will Remember Them.

The Sudden Storm: The Impact of the Bangka Island Massacre.
A six-part podcast series about the commemoration of Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) sisters who were murdered at Bangka Island after the evacuation of Singapore. Presented and produced by Australian remembrance podcast maker Megan Spencer.

This program contains concepts related to war, and some depictions of war and its aftermath. It also contains references to sexual violence in war, in Part 1 (Timestamps 18:28 – 18:40; 21:37 – 22:21) and Part 2 (Timestamps 13:00 – 25:05).

Virtual War Memorial A six-part podcast series about the commemoration of Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) sisters who were murdered at Bangka Island after the evacuation of Singapore. Presented and produced by Australian remembrance podcast maker Megan Spencer.