Australian nurses return to Gallipoli

Australian nurses are returning to Gallipoli for the 98th anniversary of the landing of ANZAC troops, to care for Australian war veterans at the dawn service.

University of Queensland School of Nursing and Midwifery Associate Professor Christine Neville is one of the nurses travelling to the historic World War I battlefield, following the footsteps of her ancestors.

“It really is an honour to be selected to accompany these men and women to this very significant event,” Associate Professor Neville said.

“I heard a call for volunteers and thought I would really love to do that,” she said.

“I have a lot of war veterans in my family, including Gallipoli and ANZAC veterans, so the dawn service has been a very important and solemn occasion in my life.

“I have been involved in the aged care sector for 25 years and spent five years as a community nurse. During that time I was able to care for war veterans who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

“There were some veterans who had never spoken of their war experiences, and often their children were unaware they were returned soldiers.”

Associate Professor Neville will leave for Gallipoli on 17 April. Her trip has been organised by Conservation Volunteers through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

She said most of the veterans who would be attending would have participated in active duty for Australia.

“We will be on duty for 36 hours, covering the Dawn Service and other services held on ANZAC Day, and will be responsible for the welfare of the veterans – ensuring they enjoy the commemorative services.”

Associate Professor Neville has been involved in nursing education for more than 20 years.

She is a Fellow of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses, a recipient of the Stan Alchin Award for Outstanding Mental Health Nursing Practice, the Deputy Director of UQ’s Ipswich Clinical School, the co-ordinator of the Master of Mental Health Nursing program.

Media: Caroline Bird, UQ Communications, 07 3365 1931 or c.bird1@uq.edu.au or Lya McTaggart, UQ School of Nursing and Midwifery, 07 3365 5084, lya.mctaggart@uq.edu.au