McKenzie, Florence Violet | AWR

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

2001
Inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women

Archival resources

National Library of Australia
- [Biographical cuttings on Florence McKenzie, former patroness of the Ex-Wran Association, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals]

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

Published resources

Book Section
- Florence Violet McKenzie, Broomham, Rosemary, 1988
Book
- Cookery book and electrical guide, McKenzie, F V (compiled by), 1940
- The WAAAF in Wartime Australia, Thomson, Joyce A, 1992
Journal Article
- Mrs Florence Violet McKenzie (nee Wallace) OBE ASTC (Elec Eng) FAIN, "Mrs Mac" died peacefully in her sleep on Sunday evening, 23 May 1982, aged 90., 1982
Edited Book
- 200 Australian Women: A Redress Anthology, Radi, Heather, 1988
- Who's Who in Australia 1962, Alexander, Joseph A, 1962
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
Resource
- Trove: McKenzie, Florence Violet (18900928-19820523), http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-756076

Related entries

Founded
- Electrical Association for Women
Related Organisations
- Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS) (1941 - 1984)
- Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) (1941 - 1947)
- Sydney Girls High School (1883 - )
Membership
- Ex-Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (NSW) (1968 - )