ACN Foundation Reveals 2025 Bullwinkel Scholars

Australian College of Nursing

The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) Foundation has named the 22 nurse leaders who are the Bullwinkel Scholars for 2025.

The scholarships honour the memory of the 21 nurses killed at Radji Beach on Bangka Island, Indonesia, on 16 February 1942, and the sole survivor, Lt Col Vivian Bullwinkel.

The scholarships are valued at up to $10,000 each, and provide one study travel scholarship, and 21 recipients with enrolment into ACN's leadership programs, giving them the opportunity to further their professional journeys.

The recipients have demonstrated remarkable leadership, dedication, and potential in their fields of nursing.

"These winners embody the best of nursing values, compassion, resilience and pride in delivering exceptional care," ACN CEO Adjunct Professor Kathryn Zeitz FACN said.

"Nurses have so much to contribute to the health care system and ACN is proud to support them to strengthen their leadership skills and ability to advocate for their patients, colleagues, and the profession."

The scholarships are funded by the ACN Foundation, its donors, and partners, the Department of Health and Aged Care and Department of Defence.

2025 Bullwinkel Scholar Recipients

Recipient

Scholarship Name

Sheldon Omwamba MACN

Matron Irene Melville Drummond - FACN

Naomi Clark

Sister Joyce Ada Bridge - FACN

John Jensen 

Sister Florence Aubin Salmon - FACN

Sonja Kulhavy MACN

Sister Mary Eleanor Ellie McGlade - FACN

Marrianne McGhee MACN

Sister Janet 'Jenny' Kerr - FACN

Flight Lieutenant Alyce Vernon 

Lieutenant Laura Florence Fairweather - FACN

Rajwant Kaur 

Sister Nancy Harris - FACN

Katrina Cook MACN

Sister Esther Sara Jean Stewie Stewart - FACN

Andrea Wilkinson MACN

Sister Mona Margaret Anderson Tait - FACN

Adam Sasinowski 

Sister Mary Elizabeth 'Beth' Cuthbertson – FACN

Bree Looker MACN

Sister Elaine Balfour Ogilvy - FACN

Raul Cox MACN

Sister Alma May Beard - FACN

Alison Cooper MACN

Sister Ellen Nell Louisa Keats - FACN

Breanna Carroll 

Sister Kathleen Margaret Neuss - FACN

Jeanette Makhoul 

Sister Rosetta Joan Wight - FACN

Irina Shevchenko MACN

Sister Clarice Halligan - FACN

Lisa Kim Russ MACN

Sister Dorothy Gwendoline 'Buddy' Elmes - FACN

Daniel Darmanin MACN

Sister Peggy Everett Farmaner - FACN

Ms Mary-Ellen Hose 

Sister Minnie Ivy Hodgson - FACN

Miss Jessica Kinder 

Sister Bessie Wilmont - FACN

Lt John Townsend MACN

Lieutenant Florence 'Flo' Rebecca Casson - FACN

ACN Lt Col Vivian Bullwinkel Study Travel Scholarship Recipient

Mrs Annette Bezzant MACN

Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel DLF

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