Today I wish to announce the unanimous support of the Canberra National
Memorials Committee for the design of the Australian Service Nurses
National Memorial, which is to be built on Anzac Parade in the National
Capital.
The Memorial will serve to honour the sacrifice and service of Australian
Service nurses who died, and to honour those who served and suffered
in caring for casualties, in war and other operations. Service nurses
have played a vital role in every theatre of war. More recently we
have all been touched by their selfless dedication, compassion and
professionalism in treating survivors of the Papua New Guinea tsunami.
They were there to comfort, to care and to heal. It is timely that
Australia commemorates their sacrifice and service.
The Federal Government has committed $100,000 towards the construction
of the Memorial. The Memorial's fund-raising committee launched
a national fund-raising appeal on 15 August 1998. I commend this cause
to the generosity of the Australian people.
The design by Robin Moorhouse, a Sydney-based sculptor, was chosen
following a two-stage national design competition. Ms Moorhouse worked
with a design team comprising Warren Langley, Brian Wilson, Jenny
Toynbee Wilson, Felicity Carruthers and Michael Biddulph. The National
Capital Authority conducted the design competition. The design for
the Memorial is horizontal in form and features a pair of curvilinear,
low sculpted glass walls that will be raised slightly on an elliptically
shaped platform. The surfaces of the glass walls will portray important
images and events drawn from the history of Australian Service nursing.
The Memorial is scheduled for completion in October 1999, which marks
the centenary of the establishment of military nursing in Australia.
NOTE:
Information on donations to the National Service Nurses Memorial can
be obtained by calling toll free 1800 241 170 or by writing to National
Nurses Memorial Trust, Freepost 139 DEAKIN WEST ACT 2600