The Australian Women's Register

Summary

Una Boyce was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) on 10 June 1991 and appointed an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) twenty years earlier, on 1 January 1971, for services to War Widows. She was state secretary of the War Widows’ Guild of Australia (New South Wales) from 1961 until 1989, becoming a life member of the War Widows’ Guild in 2000.

The daughter of Charles and Kate E. D (née Swan) Robertson, Boyce was educated at Abbotsleigh School for Girls, Wahroonga, and completed her education at the University of London. On 26 April 1940 she married war veteran Norman Boyce and the pair had three children. Boyce joined the War Widows’ Guild of Australia (New South Wales) in 1946 after her husband’s death.

Una Boyce enjoyed reading, travel, gardening and music and was a member of the Royal Automobile Association of Australia and Victory Services, London.

Events

• 1991

  Awarded Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her service to war widows

• 1971

  Appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire for her service to war widows

• 1961 - 1989

  State Secretary, War Widows’ Guild of Australia NSW

• 1936 - 1938

  Sister-Tutor, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

• 1936

  Diploma, University of London

• 1929

  Commenced nursing training at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

• 1956 - 1973

  Chairwoman of the Outward Bound girls’ division

• 1973 - 1989

  Board member of Outward Bound Foundation

• 2000

  Made a Life Member of the War Widows’ Guild of Australia (NSW) Limited

• 1935

  Registered Midwife, Queen Charlotte’s Maternity Hospital, London

• 1934

  Graduated as a gold medal nurse

• 1983

  Foundation member, Women’s Standing Committee World Veterans Federation

• 1969

  Committee Member, Outward Bound Memorial Foundation

• 1957

  Foundation Fellow, NSW College of Nursing