The Australian Electoral Commission has proposed a new federal electorate in Western Australia be named after Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel.

The proposal, if accepted, would mark the first time a federal electorate would be named in honour of a nurse.

Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel AO MBR ARRC ED FNM FRCNA was a civilian and military nurse. She is best known for being the sole survivor of the 1942 Bangka Island massacre, where 21 nurses and 60 Australian and British troops were killed.

Bullwinkel served as an army nurse for six years, before returning to civil practice as the Director of Nursing at the Fairfield Infection Diseases Hospital. She would continue to advocate for victims of the Bangka Island massacre and for the nursing profession, including as a member of the Council of the Australian War Memorial and president of the Australian College of Nursing.

Redistribution Committee Chair and Electoral Commissioner Tom Roger said the addition of the new electorate in Western Australia was required to enable an increase of federal electorates as a result of population growth.

“Under the proposal, the boundaries of all of Western Australia’s existing divisions would change and the additional Division of Bullwinkel would be created,” he said.

“Naming an electoral division after Vivian Bullwinkel recognises her dedication to honouring victims of war crimes and her service to nursing and the community, in both her civilian and military service.

“This electoral division name also honours the contribution of military medical personnel and recognises those who were prisoners of war.”