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V. Bullwinkel was born on the 18th December in her home town Kapunda, SA. She was raised by her maternal grandmother until she was around the age of six. She then re-located to Broken Hill where her parents were currently living.
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Important events in the life of Vivien Bullwinkel
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She began her nurse training at Broken Hill and Districts Hospital. Following completion of her Midwifery in 1939, she worked as a Staff Nurse at the Kiaora Private Hospital, Hamilton, Victoria. From 1940 - 1941, she worked as a Staff Nurse at the Jessie McPherson Hospital in Melbourne.
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At age 25, Vivien enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service. Shen then sailed to Malaya as a nurse in the 13th Australian General Hospital.
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In January 1942, the hospital was faced with Japanese invasion and shifted to Singapore Island, but before they arrived they were attacked. Bullwinkel drifted for hours on a lifeboat before struggling to shore to find other survivors.
The Japanese found her and together with 21 other nurses, they were ordered to sea where they were machine gunned. Sister Vivien Bullwinkel was the only survivor. She swam to shore and found an injured British soldier from another massacre. She cared for him until -
After interning for 3 years for the Japanese as a nurse, she earnt her release.
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After all of her hardship, Bullwinkel married Colonel F.W Statham. She took on his name and was then known as Vivien Statham.
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At aged 84 years, Vivien Bullwinkel died due to a heartattack in Perth, WA. She was held 2 state funerals at Melbourne and Perth.
