Each week, Luke Grant chats with an ordinary Australian who has achieved extraordinary things.

For more than 80 years, the story of Vivian Bullwinkel has stood as a quiet but powerful symbol of courage, resilience, and service.

A World War II nurse and the only survivor of the Bangka Island tragedy, where 21 of her fellow nurses were killed by Japanese soldiers, she endured surviving a shipwreck, enemy fire, and three years as a prisoner of war. 

Yet she returned home not in bitterness, but in service, dedicating her life to caring for others and honouring those who were lost.

In August 2023, Vivian Bullwinkel became the first woman to be honoured with a statue at the Australian War Memorial - a long-overdue recognition of her sacrifice, and the vital role of wartime nurses in Australia’s history.

Luke chats with Jenny Davis, an author and acclaimed theatre performer awarded an Order of Australia for her contributions, to learn about the incredible story of Vivian's life. 

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