Remembering and recognising those who have served
Bupa pays tribute to all service men and women who have bravely served to protect our nation. This Remembrance Day, we highlight two residents who live in our Enfield care home in South Australia.
George Oliver Higgins
In WWII, George joined the army at the age of 18, along with his Dad and two brothers. He was initially posted in Papua New Guinea in 1942 as a gunner.
During the war, George saw some terrible things and had to hide in the trenches for days, which George does not like to talk about. He was airlifted to Sydney Hospital after being injured and later moved to the repat hospital in Adelaide for seven months. He celebrated his 21st birthday in hospital.
After discharged from hospital, George went to stay with his mother in Gawler and it was there that he met his wife Joan.
He then moved to Renmark to work on a farm, where sadly PTSD surfaced. His trauma resulted in him being fearful to even cross the road by himself. Highlighting the lasting horrors of war, to this day George still suffers many traumatic memories from his time in the war.
George returned to Gawler and found a job as tubemaker, which he did for 36 years. George and Joan married and moved to Blair Athol to raise their three sons.
George and Joan both moved into Bupa’s Enfield care home in September 2019. Joan goes over to the Memory Support Unit (where George lives) every day to sit with him in the garden and they enjoy each other’s company.
Joyce Audrey Scott
Joyce was born on the 27 April 1923 in Prospect, South Australia.
Joyce joined the Army as a nurse when she was 23. Joyce reflected on this time, and said she saw “awful things during her time as a nurse at Heidelberg Military Hospital”.
Joyce says she was extremely happy to have been able to help people during the War.
After the war, in 1952, Joyce married her husband, who was in the Airforce. After her husband’s death, Joyce worked at David Jones, in the men’s department.
Joyce moved into Bupa Enfield in May 2001. Joyce still attends all the home’s activities and every ANZAC Day she proudly lays the wreath during the home’s memorial service.
Bupa Enfield will observe a minute’s silence on the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, in dedication to those soldiers who died fighting to protect the nation.
We will remember them.
