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Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge
Cambrai Village
85 Hester Avenue, Merriwa WA 6030
Phone: (08) 9206 6000

The Royal Australian Airforce Association ("RAAFA") is proud to present the Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge.

Secure in the heart of the beautiful and established RAAFA Cambrai Village in Merriwa, this new 80 bed Low Care Residential Aged Care Facility boasts state of the art facilities whilst maintaining a relaxed but elegant homely environment.

The Lodge is dedicated to Vivian Bullwinkel (1915-2000) and the service delivery ethos is strongly aligned to the life and work of this inspirational lady.

If you would like to place your name on the Waitlist for Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge, please contact Aileen Williams the Admissions Coordinator on 0437 703 673.

Facilities - Individual Suites

Generous Suite with private ensuite
Built in wardrobe
Side cabinet
Individual reverse cycle air conditioning unit
Quality carpet and other fittings
Private telephones
Easy access nurse call systems

Facilities - The Lodge

Medical and therapy consulting rooms
Hair dressing salon
In house movie theatre
A selection of different activity rooms
A selection of private courtyards, gardens, and coffee lounges
Sleep over facilities for resident's families
The latest in security, fire and safety-related technology
Commercial sized laundry

Services - For Residents

Medical and paramedical support
24 hour care support
Individual care and therapy plans to meet residents individual needs
Full in-house dining - 3 main meals a day and afternoon and morning tea
Special diets accommodated
Full on-site laundry services

Vivian Bullwinkel - An Amazing Australian (1915-2000)

After completing her nursing training, Vivian Bullwinkel volunteered for the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) in May 1941 and sailed to Singapore at age 25.

In February 1942, with the fall of Singapore imminent, she was in the last group of 65 nurses to be evacuated on the Vyner Brooke. Within 24 hours the ship was bombed and sunk and Vivian was one of only 20 nurses who made it to shore. The Japanese soldiers then ordered the nurses into the sea and shot them. She was the sole survivor of this "Bangka Island" massacre; shot in the hip she feigned death lying upside down in the water.

Vivian then hid in the jungle before surrendering to the Japanese and spending three and-a-half years as a prisoner of war.

After the war, Vivian spent 16 years as matron of Melbourne's Fairfield Hospital was appointed as a Council Member of the Royal College of Nursing. She became heavily involved in the establishment of the "Goals in Nursing Education", a task which heralded the move of Australian nurse education from the Hospital to the University sector.

Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel was also awarded the Royal Red Cross Medal in 1947, appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1973 and appointed to the Order of Australia (AO) in 1993. She also won the Florence Nightingale Medal.

Vivian Bullwinkel was honoured with a State Funeral in July 2000 in Perth, Western Australia.