The small community of Devenish will unveil a new plaque commemorating local nurse Vivian Bullwinkel at its Anzac tribute on April 22.
The Australian Nurses Memorial Centre has donated the plaque honouring Ms Bullwinkel which will add to the several already in place below its magnificent silos.
Devenish is well known for its extraordinary murals featuring World War I nurses, a modern female military medic and an Australian Light Horseman.
It now also has two new murals, both of which feature World War I nurses, painted by Benalla’s Tim Bowtell earlier in 2023.
Devenish Silo Art Committee member June Howard said she was looking forward to the Anzac tribute and plaque unveiling.
“We’re having a march to start the day, which we’d love people to attend,” Ms Howard said.
“We have the Light Horseman coming again.
“There will be local people dressed up in WW1 and WW2 nurses uniforms.
“The Rose City band will be providing the music. Then we’ll have the Anzac Day service conducted by Benalla RSL.”
Ms Howard said there would be lots on for all who attend including local poet Trevor who would recite one of his pieces.
"We have Alexandra Lidgerwood singing the national anthems, as well as a Vera Lynn song,“ she said.
“We have some speakers, one of whom trained under Ms Bullwinkel at the repatriation hospital in Melbourne.
"And we have the air cadets coming, too.“
There will also be food and drink available from several places including Benalla Lions, the pub, local shop and community hall.
The memorial plaque was developed by ANMC with support from Devenish Silo Art Committee, Benalla Rural City Council and the local community.
It commemorates the bravery and sacrifice of Royal Australian Army nurses who died or were prisoners of war in World War II including Vivian Bullwinkel, sole survivor of the Bangka Island massacre.
On February 12, 1942, ahead of the fall of Singapore 65 Australian Army nurses were evacuated with soldiers and civilians on the SS Vyner Brooke.
Two days later the Vyner Brooke was bombed by Japanese aircraft and sank in the Bangka Strait.
Twelve nurses were killed or lost at sea while 31 came ashore near Muntok on Bangka Island where they were imprisoned by Japanese soldiers.
The remaining 22 nurses, together with civilians and soldiers, reached Radji Beach.
After surrendering to Japanese soldiers all men in the group were shot and bayoneted.
The nurses and one civilian woman were then lined up, marched into the sea, and shot from behind.
Ms Bullwinkel, although wounded, survived by feigning death in the sea.
She died in 2000 at the age of 84.
The ANMC memorial plaque at the Devenish Art Silos will be unveiled on Saturday, April 22 as part of the Devenish Anzac Commemorative Service commencing with the march at 10.30am.