WRAN medic speaks out after dream career crushed by sexual assault

Raped on base aged 18, former Navy recruit Narelle Wilson suffered for decades while her abuser was allowed to prosper as a northern beaches GP. For the first time, she’s speaking out.

Young, fit and bursting with Aussie pride, Narelle Wilson was destined to be one of the first women to sail the seas onboard an Australian Navy vessel until an “atrocious” sexual assault crippled her resolve and destroyed her career.

The WRAN was just 18 when she was digitally raped by a doctor on base during a medical consultation – he was a much higher ranking Lieutenant Commander.

Narelle Wilson left the Navy after being sexual assaulted by a doctor.

“I didn’t report the incident because in 1979 there were no reporting procedures in place, there were no dedicated personnel that this could be reported to and because of the humiliation and embarrassment,” Narelle said.

“And mostly because being a non-ranking WRAN accusing an officer of such atrocious behaviour just would not be believed or accepted. It was a secret I kept tightly for over 40 years.”

In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Telegraph Narelle has found the courage to speak publicly about her ordeal, her fight for justice and the disappointment she still feels every day at being robbed of the chance to become a naval medical officer specialising in underwater medicine.

HIGH HOPES

“I joined the Navy at 17 years of age with hope, respect, pride, and a lifelong dream of serving my country in the Medical Corp,” Narelle said.

“I had hoped to join and complete my medic training and then transfer over to officer training school to complete my registered nurse training.

“I soon found that my true passion was underwater medicine and the diverse medical conditions that needed to be treated.”

Aerial photograph of HMAS Penguin, the Navy base where Narelle undertook her training.

“I represented the Navy in the combined forces basketball tournament and was the first female to finish in the 1980 Gate to Gate Run between the Army and the Navy, giving me the nickname of The Greyhound, an achievement I am still proud of today.”

Narelle remembers training daily, running up Awaba Rd Mosman, “before it became trendy”,

swimming a kilometre a day in the pool at HMAS Penguin or training in the gymnasium.

“I wanted to serve my country with a fit physical body and an even fitter mind.”

THE SEXUAL ASSAULT

Her road to success was cut short when she made the decision to seek treatment for cystitis.

“I wanted a course of antibiotics or some medication to treat my symptoms,” she recalls.

“Instead the doctor told me to strip from the waist down and to get on the bed on all fours like a dog.”

With a trembling voice she told of how she didn’t feel she could question the request.

“He was a doctor and also a high-ranking officer. We were taught during recruit school to obey all officers and I was only 18 years old at the time.

“I remember being in this very exposed, embarrassing position and staring at the green painted walls when he came from behind.

“I recall at the time he had no gloves on and I thought that was odd but again I felt that it was wrong of me to question his procedure.”

Narelle felt she couldn’t question a superior in rank.

The horrific assault cut her career short.

The assault, which lasted at least 30 seconds, left her feeling “dirty”.

“I get angry, moody, teary and intolerant on a daily basis, even more so when I am reminded of the abuse,” the 61-year-old grandmother said.

“After the said incident I left the Navy with self doubt, distrust for others and cynicism towards authority.”

GETTING OUT

Soon after the attack Narelle asked her partner to marry her so she could leave the Navy.

“Getting married or falling pregnant was the only way women were allowed to leave the Navy. We agreed to marry the following August and I was subsequently discharged on August 31, 1980, the day of our wedding. I was 19 years old.”

A few years later Narelle was walking in Mona Vale and froze when she saw a gold plaque with a doctor’s name engraved – the same doctor who abused her and had been discharged from the Navy.

“I learned he was discharged or court martialled and there was some talk of him messing with sailors. But here he was allowed to be a general practitioner. I remember being so angry, I felt this was so unjust. He was kicked out of the Navy but still able to practice. These injustices need to come to life.”

TAKING A STAND

In January 2020 Narelle sought advice from lawyers who lodged a claim for a reparation payment. Nine months later her claim was accepted and the payment awarded.

Narelle has taken a stand, fighting for compensation and justice for the abuse she suffered on HMAS Penguin.

In March last year she started her application to be included in the Commonwealth Ombudsman Restorative Engagement Program – a program designed to support defence members and veterans tell a personal story of abuse to a senior representative from Defence in a private, facilitated meeting. The conference also provides the opportunity for Defence to acknowledge and respond to the personal story of abuse.

The following month Narelle reported her abuse to Port Macquarie Police and made a formal statement.

Detectives located the doctor in Melbourne that May. He refused to cooperate or be interviewed. He died June 13.

Narelle has her restorative engagement meeting in March with a member of Defence who is of equivalent rank to her abuser.

She has a list of questions for which she expects answers.

HER LAWYER’S PERSPECTIVE

Lawyer and former Army officer Glenn Kolomeitz said “as a medic Narelle’s core business was the care of others but she was let down by the Defence hierarchy’s failure to afford her a duty of care.”

Former ADF officer Glenn Kolomeitz has taken on Narelle’s case. Picture: Owen Hammond/APAC Sport Media

“The breach of trust by someone in a position of authority is aggravated by Defence’s inability to protect Narelle in what was clearly a vulnerable situation.”

Mr Kolomeitz, from GAP Veteran & Legal Services, is representing Narelle in her fight for compensation and validation.

“Like in many cases of Defence abuse the perpetrator prospers while the survivor suffers.”

WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS

“Although I have achieved many things in my life, I have always felt inadequate and never really felt that I have never reached my full potential,” she says.

Narelle Wilson (top, second from right) held great promise as a recruit, and still dreams of becoming an underwater medical specialist in the Navy.

“I have been a hard worker with moralistic work ethics, yet still at 61 years of age I am still studying so I can always make a living for myself even into retirement.

“This incident has seen me forgo 20 to 40 years of active service with a salary commensurate to my ranking, a naval pension and a compounded superannuation.”

“I often become anxious knowing that I haven’t lived my dream of becoming a naval medical officer specialising in underwater medicine.

“I missed out on finishing my nursing degree, being a part of the transition of WRAN’s becoming active personnel on ships at sea, but most of all the opportunity to serve my country was denied me.”

“This doctor’s assault and the lack of reporting protocols in the Navy took all this away.”

At age 50 Narelle re-applied for naval entrance, then decided she was too old.

“I still have recurring dreams of rushing to joining the Navy before it’s too late.”

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