2017-02-16 Thu

14th February 2017 marks the 75th anniversary of the sinking of SS Vyner Brooke. A commemorative 20 cent coin has been released by the Royal Australian Mint to celebrate this inspiring story of survival.

SS Vyner Brooke was sunk by Japanese forces while the medical staff and the wounded from Singapore were being rescued during the Second World War. Some survived and reached Radji Beach, but the servicemen and nurses were killed brutally. Nurse Vivian Bullwinkel was the only Australian to survive.

The coin features Vyner Brooke’s horrific journey while the packaging features many shocking images related to the event. The story talks about compassion and bravery of all Australian war nurses.

The Australian Mint and Australian War Memorial joined hands to release this special commemorative coin as a part of the Official Anzac Centenary Coin Program. The mintage limit of the coin is 20,000 and each one would cost AUS$10.