The Australian Women's Register

Summary

The Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC) was established in April 1951 to help overcome a manpower shortage. During the late 1970s female soldiers began to be integrated into the Army at large and in early 1985, the WRAAC was disbanded. The last Officers’ Cadet School parade (6 December 1984) on the WRAAC School parade ground saw the Officer Cadets and the WRAAC Contingent marching to the strains of “Soldiers of the Queen”. Prior to the formal closing of the gates the WRAAC School flag was ceremoniously lowered and slow marched “off”, to be folded and handed over to the Chief Instructor of the WRAAC School for safe keeping. The gates, which had been repainted for the occasion, were then closed by Major Diane McVicker of the WRAAC School and Mrs Gwen Ellis – sister of Colonel Best.

The WRAAC Prayer was also included in the ceremony:

Almighty God, we ask you to reveal yourself in the fullness of your love to all who reach out to you. Help us to recognise ourselves as your children. Let the day soon dawn when we will allow your love to right every wrong.

Give us the courage and self control to play our part as members of the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps to help your kingdom come on earth. Lead us in the pathway of life as your own wisdom and love see best: we are anxious only to do your will.

We ask you to give us the grace to rise above temptation, to be patient when tired, to be kind and helpful towards others.

To all members of our Army grant the special blessing that we need. Preserve us from selfishness. Bless every member of our Corps, our families and friends.

We come to you as children to our Father, asking these and all other blessing, in the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord.
Amen.

Events

• 1951

  WO Pat Rawlings became the first Chief Instructor for the recruit training course.

• 1951

  The prefix ‘Royal’ granted by His Majestry King George VI, in recognition of the AWAS wartime service, thereby becoming Womens Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC).

• 1951

  Approval given for the introduction of the WRAAC in to the Citizens Military Forces (CMF).

• 1952

  Major Crane appointed Chief Instructor for the Officer Refresher Course. Later appointed as Chief Instructor for the Officer’s Qualifying Course held for Non-Commissioned Officers who had previously been servicewomen.

• 1951

  Approval given for defining two Corps of the women’s side of the ARA. 1. RAANC and 2. WAAC.

• 1951 - 1957

  Lieutenant Colonel Kathleen Best, a former matron of the AANS, commenced duty as the first Director at AHO.

• 1951 - 1961

  Colonel Sybil Irving appointed as first Honorary Colonel of WAAC.

• 1951

  Major Lucy Crane appointed Assistant Director of the WAAC.

• 1972 - 1977

  Colonel Kathleen Fowler appointed Director of Corps.

• 1973

  Honorary Colonel Sybil H Irving dies.

• 1974

  Married women with children under 16 years are permitted to serve.

• 1977 - 1979

  Colonel Barbara Maxwell appointed Director

• 1979

  Posting of Director abolished.

• 1979 - 1981

  Colonel Dulcie Verinder appointed Head of Corps.

• 1981 - 1982

  Colonel Pam Smith replaces Colonel Verinder

• 1982

  Lieutenant Colonel Pam Smith appointed Service Women’s Advisor to CGS.

• 1982

  Colonel Margaret Fleming appointed to replace Colonel Smith.

• 1983

  WRAAC members swap their buttons and badges for those of the Corps in which they served.

• 1984

  Final course of Recruits and Officer Cadets march out of WRAAC School.

• 1985

  WRAAC School disbanded. Female officer cadets attend OCS Portsea.

• 1985

  The only member of the WRAAC to serve through the entire life of the Corps was WO2 Joyce Cole (Hogan) who retired aged 60 years. WO2 was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and the Defence Force Service Medal and Bar

• 1950

  Submission made to the Military Board, with consideration being given for the reintroduction of women into the Australian Regular Army (ARA) and Citizens Military Forces (CMF)

• 1950

  Cabinet approved the reintroduction of the Australian Women’s Army Service (AWAS). The Service was to be raised as an entirely separate unit, and not integrated with the male CMF.

• 1950

  Approval given for the enlistment of 250 personnel.

• 1951

  Decision made to discontinue AAMWS as a separate Service.

• 1959

  Members of the WRAAC became eligible to contribute to the Defence Forces Retirement Benefit Fund.

• 1959

  The Corps recognised as a permanent part of the Defence structure.

• 1961

  Colonel Irving retires as Honorary Colonel.

• 1961 - 1966

  Lieutenant Colonel May Douglas appointed Honorary Colonel.

• 1967

  First detachment of WRAAC on overseas duty to Singapore. Seven WRAAC posted for 12 months service with 121 Signals Squadron.

• 1967 - 1985

  Lady Helen Cutler appointed Honorary Colonel.

• 1952

  Announcement that the period of engagement (3 or 6 years) and training for women would be brought in line with their male counterparts.

• 1952

  Lieutenant-Colonel Best was promoted to Colonel.

• 1953 - 1985

  Her Royal Highness, The Princess Margaret, C.I., G.C.V.O. appointed by Her Majesty The Queen as Colonel-in-Chief of the WRAAC.

• 1954

  Queen Elizabeth 11 visited Australia. WRAAC personnel participated in events around the country.

• 1955 - 1957

  Colonel Dawn Jackson appointed deputy director of WRAAC

• 1956

  An alliance between the WRAAC and the Womens Royal Army Corps (WRAC), approved by Her Majestry the Queen.

• 1956

  Colonel Irving reappointed as Honorary Colonel

• 1956

  WRAAC and RAANC personnel participated as usherettes etc. at the Melbourne Olympic Games.

• 1957

  Colonel Best died aged 47 years.

• 1958

  Approval given for the adoption by the WRAAC of a Corps flag.

• 1959

  The main gates at WRAAC School were designed and named in honour of Colonel Best – “the Kathleen Best Memorial Gateway”.

• 1986

  Female cadets are trained at the Royal Military College Duntroon or the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA).

• 1980

  Graduates are no longer allocated to WRAAC, but rather to the corps in which they are to serve.

• 1957 - 1972

  Colonel Dawn Jackson appointed director of WRAAC