THE lives of three Ballarat nurses, who died after serving Australia in war will be honoured at a special service to be held at the Arch of Victory on Sunday.
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While 56 nurses from the Ballarat region who served Australia at war will be honoured, the three who died, including Blodwyn Willams and Gertrude Munro who died as a result of World War I and 'Beth' Cuthbertson, who was one of 21 Australian nurses killed in the Banka Island massacre in World War II, will be commemorated.
Blodwyn Williams served the entire war, yet fell ill prior to her return to Australia from the war and would die in Melbourne. Gertrude Munro died in Greece one month before the end of the war.
Arch of Victory/Avenue of Honour committee president said the service would commemorate the 78th anniversary of the Banka Island massacre which saw 22 Australian nurses marched into the water and machined-gunned by Japanese forces. All but one were killed.
"In recent years we have commemorated many major battles and remembered the Ballarat men who fought in them," Mr Snowden said.
"So it is only right that we also remember the critical work of the nurses who cared for the sick and wounded.
"People attending the service will hear of the outstanding service of several nurses who trained at the Ballarat Hospital. Ballarat citizens and visitors are invited to attend and anyone wishing to do so will be able to place a wreath or other tribute during the service."
The service will be held at the Arch of Victory, 11am on Sunday February 16.
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