April 20, 2016

Descendant of ANZAC hero receives Gallipoli scholarship

First year nursing student Abby Cartwright receives study grant from the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund. 

At 19, first year nursing student Abby Cartwright is just one year younger than her paternal grandfather was when he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1941. 

Gordon Douglas Cartwright, a wireless air gunner who served for more than four years during World War II, was among the first ANZAC soldiers to halt the advance on land of the Japanese Army at Milne Bay, on the south-eastern tip of Papua. 

“I never got to met my pop, he died before I was born, but I am so proud of what he did for Australia.” 

“I can’t imagine what he went through.” 

On the eve of ANZAC Day, it is fitting that Abby should receive a scholarship from the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund. 

The $7,000 Bill Hall Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to a disadvantaged student who is a descendant of a Milne Bay veteran. Bill Hall OAM BEM, the founder of the Gallipoli Scholarship, served in that battle. 

Gordon Cartwright was discharged as Warrant officer after the war ended, having served with 21 Squadron in Borneo, Papua, the Northern Territory and various posts around Australia. 

At the end of 1945, he returned to the small town of Pucawan in the north-east of the Riverina area of New South Wales, where he was born, and raised nine children, including Abby’s father Robert, with his wife Therese. 

Abby grew up on her grandfather’s property, where the family farms sheep and crop, and has moved to Wollongong this year to study. 

“I was a little nervous to move so far from my family, but everyone has been so friendly so far and the grounds are beautiful.” 

A passion for helping others runs deep in the Cartwright family. Abby’s sister is also a nurse in South Australia.    

“I was always attracted to the anatomical and physiological side of nursing,” Abby said, “however since commencing the course I have become more aware about the interaction with patients and their families, at both the best and worse times of their lives.”