Bundaberg War Nurses Memorial and Park
Bundaberg Regional CouncilThe West Bundaberg Progress Association initiated the construction of the memorial when they approached Bundaberg City Council to hand over the land for beautification purposes.
Construction costs of over 1,000 pounds were raised by the Bundaberg General Hospital and the Red Cross in just 7 weeks, with many local companies and individuals also contributing.
Designed by architect Eric Hawksley Boden, it was officially opened on 15 October 1949 by Bundaberg Mayor, Alderman FH Buss. A large crowd attended and 50 nurses in white uniform stood as a guard of honour.
The memorial honours the 12 local women who served as nursing sisters in the First World War and 4 who served in the Second World War, two of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice - Sister Pearl Mittelheuser in a Japanese Prisoner of War camp and Sister Joyce Wyllie in the sinking of the Centaur.
At the time the Bundaberg War Nurses Memorial and Park was the only tribute to war nurses in Australia. It is believed that it is still the only known memorial that honours the service of women in the First World War. The memorial is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.
Sources:
Queensland Heritage Register, 'Bundaberg War Nurses Memorial and Park', https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/heritage-register/detail/?id=600365.
Bundaberg News-Mail, 17 Oct 1949, p4.
