Before entering Big Brother Australia, Anita Bingham — sister of two-time Big Brother winner Reggie Bird — lived through an event that changed her life forever.
On April 28, 1996, Anita was a 17-year-old waitress working at the historic Port Arthur site in Tasmania when Martin Bryant carried out the Port Arthur massacre, killing 35 people and injuring many others.
Anita had only been working at the Frances Langford Tearooms for around a month when the shooting began.
After hearing gunshots nearby, she went outside to see what was happening and saw terrified visitors fleeing from the Broad Arrow Cafe. Realising something was wrong, Anita returned inside and helped keep customers safe while an armed gunman remained at large.
The teenager locked the cafe doors, made cups of tea for those sheltering inside and tried to keep everyone calm as they waited for police to arrive.
Years later, Anita revealed the experience left her with lifelong trauma, saying she still hears the sound of the gunshots.
Who is Anita Bingham?
Anita Bingham is a Tasmanian woman who joined the cast of Big Brother Australia 2026, but viewers may recognise her for another reason — she is the younger sister of two-time Big Brother winner Reggie Bird.
While Reggie became a household name after winning Big Brother Australia in 2003 and again in 2022, Anita is entering the reality show ready to share her own story.
The sisters have remained close throughout the years, with Reggie publicly supporting Anita during her time in the spotlight.
Anita Bingham recalls the terrifying day that changed her life
Anita has since spoken publicly about her experience, recalling how what began as an ordinary shift at Port Arthur quickly turned into one of Australia’s darkest days.
“I’d started working at Port Arthur three months before,” she told That’s Life. “Originally meant to be a waitress in the Broad Arrow Café on the site, I was posted to the Frances Langford Tea Rooms instead.”
She remembered hearing what sounded like gunshots while serving customers, initially believing they were part of one of the site’s historical reenactments.
“Must be one of the historic reconstructions,” she recalled thinking.
But after stepping outside and seeing terrified visitors running for cover, Anita realised something was terribly wrong.
“Suddenly people flooded out, ducking behind walls… Backing away as the banging continued, fear lodged in my stomach.”
She ran back inside, where staff locked the doors after hearing reports of an active gunman.
Anita immediately called her older sister, future Big Brother winner Reggie Bird, to let her know she was safe.
“There’s a gunman,” she remembered telling Reggie. “Tell Mum and Dad I’m safe and I love them.”
As customers sheltered inside the tea rooms, Anita tried to keep everyone calm.
“Everything will be fine,” she told them, serving hot drinks and trying to maintain a sense of normality.
Reflecting on the tragedy years later, Anita said she still lives with the emotional impact of that day.
“Now 27 years on, I still struggle with PTSD… I’ll never know why Martin Bryant did what he did, and I’ll always hate guns.”
Reggie Bird shares emotional tribute to Anita
Ahead of the anniversary of the Port Arthur massacre, Reggie paid tribute to those affected by the tragedy and revealed her sister’s personal connection to the event.
Sharing a post on Instagram, Reggie wrote:
“30 Years Ago Today …. 35 lives were tragically taken and many injured, at the Port Arthur Massacre. Lives were changed forever. The whole of Australia and especially The Tasman Peninsula was changed forever.”
She continued: “My sister Anita was working at Port Arthur that day and her life was changed forever. Thinking of everyone who was there, and everyone that was affected by this horrific event and also to the first responders.”
Fans react after discovering Anita’s connection to Port Arthur
Taking to Reddit, fans have shared their reactions to the discovery.
“Wow… I feel like this is so important to understand her. I have watched quite a bit of the livestream, and the daily eps but missed this being mentioned? I don’t think it has been aired,” one fan wrote.
“I think she seems really lovely and is just a different character to a lot of the others. Probably feeling a bit out of place. I hope she stays around!”
They added: “Understanding this kind of trauma she went through at 17 certainly adds a lot of context to a few things I’ve seen. Hope they give her a chance to hang around longer!”
“That’s harrowing,” another fan wrote.
“Horrible what happened to Anita,” another person wrote, with someone adding: “That’s so horrible omg, I feel so bad for her.”
Anita Bingham’s life after Port Arthur
Following the massacre, Anita was recognised for her bravery in helping others during the attack.
Despite the trauma she experienced, she later returned to work at Port Arthur, attempting to reclaim the place that had played such a significant role in her life.
However, Anita has spoken openly about the lasting impact of that day, including struggling with PTSD and the memories of what happened.
Now, decades later, she is stepping into the Big Brother Australia house with a new chapter ahead of her — hoping audiences will get to know Anita Bingham beyond the tragedy she survived.
Stream Big Brother Australia on 10Play.
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