The Australian Women's Register

The only daughter of Sydney and Celia Buscombe’s six children was raised in the Box Hill area of Victoria. From October 1942 until 1946 she served with the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS) at Cerberus, Lonsdale and Magnetic. Buscombe joined the Ex-WRANS Association (Victoria) when formed in 1966 and for a number of years she assisted as Honorary Secretary/Treasurer and Honorary Auditor.

Following World War II Buscombe completed an accountancy course at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) through the Repatriation Scheme. She spent 1952 and 1953 in England and later worked as an accountant, assistant secretary and volunteer to fundraising committees and auxiliaries with the Victorian School for Deaf Children, before retiring in 1980.

Buscombe also was a member of various committees with the Victorian Girl Guides Association for over 10 years, the Victorian Council of Social Services Combined Charities Christmas Card Shop for 18 years and Zonta (Melbourne/Yarra Branch) for over 20 years. In 1981 she became involved with the Motor Neurone Society (later the Motor Neurone Disease Association of Victoria – MNDAV) and helped create the national body. The association recognized her contribution by awarding her Life Governorship and establishing a travel bursary – The Nina Buscombe Award – in her honour.