A day in the life of Army nurses at Vung Tau DPR/TV/676

The Australian 8th Field Ambulance at Vung Tau in South Vietnam is the main medical centre where Australian casualties are evacuated form the battlefield, and helicopters have been lifting wounded soldiers in for treatment during current "Operation Ballarat". The centre has first class facilities for the rapid recovery of these men, who receive the best possible care and attention. About three months ago the clinically spotless wards were given a cheerful "touch of home" with the arrival of four Australian nursing sisters - the first Australian servicewomen to serve in Vietnam. The Aussie patients are always delighted to see these girls, and submit gracefully to temperature taking, blood counts - and all those mysterious notes that nurses make, and will never tell you about. The nurse's days are busy and their work hard - but they have one big advantage. Their patients are more than just men to be cured... they are friends from home as well. And after an operation is successfully completed, and the patient is out of danger, the relief shows on a smiling face as the surgical mask is removed. [Identified personnel: F1477 Captain Amy Margot Pittendreigh of Manjimup, WA writing up reports; patient Private Bill Blissett Victor Company 2 RAR Anzac Battalion of Rolleston, New Zealand, F25126 Lieutenant Terrie Elizabeth Roche of Goulburn NSW sharina a joke with patient 18326 Corporal Terry Hume Porter 7 RAR of Brisbane, Qld; F25129 Lieutenant Margaret Fay Ahern (married name Hopcraft) close up removing surgical mask, of Leeton, NSW; F45062 Colleen Ann Mealy (married name Thurgar) of Port Augusta, SA shopping in Vung Tau with the three named sisters.]