ARTICLES OF INTEREST
Article from ABC Shepparton by Callum Marshall
Posted Mon 19 Feb 2024
Women's contribution to Australian defence forces recognised in new Violet Town mural
A 17-metre-long mural honouring women in or supporting Australia's defence forces has been unveiled in north-east Victoria's Violet Town.
It was painted by Benalla artist Tim Bowtell and depicts service women from the Boer War to today.
Locals hope the mural will help inspire the next generation of women in the military.
On the 82nd anniversary of the Bangka Island Massacre, in which 21 unarmed Australian nurses were killed during World War II, a 17-metre-long artwork honouring women's contribution to the Australian defence forces has been unveiled in north-east Victoria.
The steel mural was officially unveiled in Violet Town on Friday.
It was painted by well-known Benalla artist Tim Bowtell, with Violet Town RSL and community members helping bring the project together.
The figures in the mostly monochrome artwork include local women such as Sister Frances Mackay, who worked overseas in the Australian Army Nursing Service, and Alicia Lindrum, who served as a driver to United States General Douglas MacArthur in Melbourne in 1942.
The mural tells a story stretching from the Boer War to today.
An image of the Australian Army's current regimental sergeant major, Warrant Officer Kim Felmingham, is included within it.
The regimental sergeant major is the most senior warrant officer in the Army.
Warrant Officer Felmingham, who is the first woman to have served in the role, delivered an emotional speech during Friday's unveiling event.
Warrant Officer Kim Felmingham, the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Australian Army, attended.(ABC Shepparton: Callum Marshall)
She said the mural carried with it a great national significance.
"For me it just demonstrates how far we have come organisationally, both within Defence but also as a society," she said.
"It is also the fact that diversity is so important in any role or responsibility we have."
Telling the stories of women
Aunty Lorraine Hatton, the second-ever official Indigenous Elder of the Australian Army, was also present at the unveiling.
Aunty Lorraine, who retired as a Warrant Officer Class 2 in 2007 after 20 years' service in the Signals Corps, said it was fantastic to see the mural highlighting the military stories of women.
"When you look at our military history it has many stories — it can be about an individual, groups of people and units," she said.
"A majority of those histories related to males."
She said the mural helped bring to light the important history of women's involvement in war.
Aunty Lorraine Hatton says it's important to highlight the stories of women in the military.(ABC Shepparton: Callum Marshall)
Recognising Vivian Bullwinkel
One of the figures included in the Violet Town mural is Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel — the sole surviving Australian nurse following the Bangka Island Massacre.
Her red nursing cape is the lone piece of colour featured in the painting.
For local resident and RSL member Ann Martin, a former major and defence nurse, it was important to see the mural unveiled on Friday due to the day's significance as the 82nd anniversary of the massacre.
Major Martin travelled to Bangka Island in 2017 for the 75th anniversary of the massacre.
She said Lieutenant Colonel Bullwinkel's story of survival was inspirational.
After being freed from a Japanese internment camp in 1945, she came home and helped establish the Australian Nurses Memorial Centre, and returned to work as a nurse.
Major Martin stands beside the depiction of celebrated nurse Vivian Bullwinkel.(ABC Shepparton: Callum Marshall)
"To me she was a true leader and inspiration," Major Martin said.
"That part of history is really important for not only nurses of today but for tomorrow.
"There has to be the legacy that you look back and think, 'That's an amazing person, have I got that courage?'" Major Martin said it was also good to see the mural recognising a number of locals.
She said the community's efforts to bring the project together had been fantastic. "To know that it took six years, it's amazing that they stuck with it," she said.
"Everybody will now, as they come through Violet Town, stop, look and remember.
"This is now a part of history."