Courage and compassion for 85 years

Defence nurses have delivered an array of aid to service personnel since 1899, forming a vital part of the Australian Defence Force and veteran community as a pillar of support for those injured during service and for their ongoing care.

Representing some of those veterans is Defence Service Nurses RSL Sub Branch, which is proud to celebrate 85 years since receiving its charter to become an official Sub Branch of RSL Queensland in 1939.

This anniversary not only symbolises a proud moment for Defence nurses, but also marks 125 years since nurses first served in the Australian Defence Force.

Taking the opportunity to reflect on the Sub Branch’s beginnings, Defence Service Nurses RSL Sub Branch President Ann Bramwell says it means so much having an RSL Sub Branch, especially for nurses to build connections and to provide tailored support.

Defence Service Nurses RSL Sub Branch President Ann Bramwell

She also emphasises that acquiring the charter was a remarkable achievement by Defence nurses and RSL Queensland, considering women were not always acknowledged in the same way as men when it came to their service.

“Following the end of World War I many nurses were told to just go home and start families despite having witnessed and experienced difficult conditions on the battlefield,” Ann says.

“However, nurses were not discouraged, and a Sub Branch membership was applied for in 1933, which was successful, and the charter was signed in 1939.”

An expanding community 

The Sub Branch originally represented Army nurses, but after World War II, nurses from the Royal Australian Navy and Air Force also joined. The South Eastern Sub Branch then became a tri-service group providing care, commemoration and camaraderie for Defence nurses.

“We originally formed under the name of Returned Sisters Sub Branch (RSSILA) but in 2003 we changed the name to Defence Service Nurses to better reflect nurses who served at home as well as overseas and the men who also came into the nursing profession in the 1970s,” Ann says.

Today, Defence Service Nurses RSL Sub Branch remains one of only two dedicated nurse Sub Branches in the country, the other in Victoria, representing nurses who served in the Australian Defence Force – but its network of nurses is expanding.

“Our membership sits at 70 and is growing with Defence nurses around Queensland becoming members,” Ann explains.

“To cater for this, we have established internet-based conferencing, so members who cannot attend in person can join online and thus participate in the meeting discussions and camaraderie.

“Utilising technology has really allowed our Sub Branch to evolve and connect with more people, and it’s something we want to continue to take advantage.”

Meaningful relationships

In addition to leveraging technology, Defence Nurses RSL Sub Branch also maintains strong connections within its membership through regular updates, lunches every second month and social events.

“Catching up with each other over lunch before our meetings allows us to socialise and have that camaraderie with one another,” Ann says.

“Once a year we have a special Defence Service Nurses Birthday Luncheon where we invite guest speakers to share their story and experiences. ANZAC Day also provides this opportunity for our members and current serving nurses to march together, remembering those who have gone before.

“It’s great because it brings together different generations of nurses, allowing us to bond and discuss how nursing has changed within Defence over the years, as well as share our stories and learn from each other.”

Inspired by these conversations, Ann last year launched a magazine titled A Year in Review to keep others informed about the Sub Branch and to encourage more nurses to join.

“The magazine describes who we are, what we do and the types of initiatives with which we are involved in throughout the year,” Ann says.

Alongside the magazine, with assistance from the Department of Veterans' Affairs’ Saluting Their Service Grant Program, the Sub Branch has also developed guest speaker and educational packages for Sub Branches and schools.

“We have created five different presentations about topics relating to Defence nurses, which can be presented by one of our members or sent out to Sub Branches or teachers for them to incorporate into their lessons,” Ann explains.

“The presentations are a particularly useful offering for rural and remote schools that may not have any Defence nurses nearby who can share their stories.” 

Future-focused and inspired 

Reflecting on the past 85 years, the Sub Branch is also very proud of the support it has provided to initiatives related to nursing and other ex-service organisations.

“We recently reprinted a book called Moreton Bay in WWII and are selling the copies through a local bookstore. All proceeds were donated to the Vivian Bullwinkel statue that was erected in Canberra in 2023,” Ann says.

“Now that it has been completed, further proceeds are being donated to help support the 21 postgraduate scholarships offered by the Australian College of Nursing through their Bullwinkel Project.

“We also support the Carolyn Lister Scholarship, which assists in the training of a nurse from the Kokoda area in New Guinea. These are just some of the projects we are passionate about.”

Ann says it has been a privilege to build on the foundations set by previous Sub Branch Presidents and continue the growth of their network of Defence nurses.

“Each President has brought something different into the Sub Branch. I think my contribution has been the increasing move into technology and spreading our wings to be even more inclusive of regional, rural and remote areas,” Ann says.

“We support not only current and past serving nurses, but also our Sub Branch colleagues in these areas any way that we can.

“I am honoured to be in this role and it’s a privilege to meet others and learn more about their stories or how nurses have made an impact within Defence and the broader veteran community.”