- Entry type: Person
- Entry ID: AWE0386
McKenzie, Florence Violet
(1892 – 1982)
- Born 1 January, 1892, Hawthorn Victoria Australia
- Died 31 December, 1982
- Occupation Electrical engineer, Servicewoman
Summary
In 1924 Florence Wallace (as she was then known) became Australia’s first certificated woman radio telegraphist and in 1924, the only woman member of the Wireless Institute of Australia. She was the founder and director of the Electrical Association for Women, established in 1934. In 1939 she founded and directed the Women’s Emergency Signalling Corps, which later became the starting point for the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS). Rosemary Broomham wrote in the biography of Florence McKenzie in 200 Australian Women that altogether Mrs McKenzie trained over 10,000 servicemen in Morse, visual signalling and international code, and she trained 3000 women, a third of whom went into the Services. On 8 June 1950 Florence McKenzie was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for her work with the Women’s Emergency Signals Corps.
Events
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2001 - 2001
Inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women
Published resources
- Book Section
- Book
- Journal Article
- Edited Book
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Site Exhibition
- Faith, Hope and Charity Australian Women and Imperial Honours: 1901-1989, Australian Women's Archives Project, 2003, http://www.womenaustralia.info/exhib/honours/honours.html
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Resource
- Trove: McKenzie, Florence Violet (18900928-19820523), http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-756076
Archival resources
Digital resources
- Title: Mrs Florence Violet McKenzie OBE
- Type: Image
- Description: Mrs Florence Violet McKenzie OBE at an unveiling ceremony in her honour. The plaque is recognizing her service to Australia. Mrs McKenzie was the first woman in Australia to graduate in electrical engineering. In July 1938 she joined the Australian Women's Flying Club in Sydney, becoming an instructor in Morse code. She formed the Women's Emergency Signallers Corps (WESC), foreseeing that Australian defence would need wireless telegraphists and signallers. Mrs McKenzie became impatient waiting for the RAAF to recruit women and offered her trainees to the RAN, fourteen of whom were accepted, froming the nucleus for the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS). In May 1941, the RAAF appointed Mrs McKenzie as an honorary Flight Officer in the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) in appreciation of her services. Mrs Mckenzie was also responsible for training many men, including United States forces. In 1950, she was awarded an Order of the British Empire. (Donor D. Needham)
- Date: 3 May, 2023
- Title: AWE0386gc.jpg
- Type: Image
- Date: 3 May, 2023