Ellen Savage
Born in 1912 to a Russian tailor and New South Wales-born mother, Savage loved following rules and thrived on structure. After graduating from a nursing program in 1934, Savage studied women’s health before eventually joining the Australian Army Nursing Service in 1941. A few years into service, Savage was on a hospital ship when a Japanese torpedo struck the ship, causing it to sink. Savage had several injuries and was the only nurse to survive. With the help of other survivors, Savage helped build a raft and monitored everyone’s health and the water supply until they were rescued 34 hours later.
She was later awarded the George Medal for her bravery and was the second Australian woman to ever receive the honor. Ellen Savage later became a founding member, council member, and president of the College of Nursing in Australia.
Margaret Tucker
Born on an Aboriginal reserve of Warrangasda in New South Wales, at the age of 13, Tucker was taken from her family and forced to live at a Girls’ Training Home. Afterwards, she spent nearly a decade as a domestic servant.
Throughout her life, Tucker refused to be bitter about her life and instead focused on trying to help other First Nations people. She wanted white Australians to understand the hardships faced by Indigenous peoples and demanded full citizenship and equal rights for First Nations people.
In 1968, Tucker, who was fondly called “Auntie Marge” by many, was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for advocating for the Indigenous community. Today, Tucker is remembered as one of the first female First Nations activists in Australia and the first Indigenous woman appointed to the Ministry
of Aboriginal Affairs.