Australia’s nurses will have the opportunity to acknowledge their colleagues in the Defence Forces and those who have served before them during Canberra’s Anzac Day Commemorations.
Australian College of Nursing (ACN) Fellows, Members and Staff will gather at the Australian Nurses Memorial on Anzac Parade to acknowledge the profession’s fallen before participating in the annual Anzac Day March.
ACN CEO Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN highlighted the occasion was an important time for the nurses of today to pay tribute to those who have and continue to serve in our nation’s Defence Forces.
“As a nurse myself, I am humbled to have the chance to join my colleagues in the Anzac Day March and honour the bravery of the members of our profession who have given their lives for our country,” she said.
“Nurses never forget the immense sacrifice of those who have come before us. In a fitting tribute, our journey will begin at the Australian Nurses Memorial which commemorates those nurses who have lost their lives serving our country. It will end just a short distance away from where the sculpture of Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel AO, MBE, ARRC, ED, FNM, FRCNA will be located in the grounds of the Australian War Memorial.”
Adjunct Professor Ward also outlined how the march was an important time for nurses to acknowledge the contribution of their contemporary’s working in the Defence Forces.
“The crucial role nurses have played in protecting our country during peace and wartime continues right up to the present day,” she said.
“The expertise of nursing professionals in a broad range of roles is ensuring life-saving care is provided where it is needed most. The risk the military nurses of today place themselves in should not be under-estimated and I am proud to pay my respects to their service by marching alongside them on ANZAC Day.”
