The Australian Women's Register

Summary

Born in Burma in 1932, Barbara Maxwell came to Australia with her family in 1946 and attended Girdlestone School, Perth, Western Australia. She joined the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps (RAANC) in 1952, serving in Japan, and was in every Australian Command with the exception of Eastern Command.

While posted to the 11th RAANC, Western Command, Warrant Officer 2 (WO2) Barbara Maxwell gained selection for the Officers’ Cadet School. This was after the Military Board gave approval for other ranks of the RAANC to attend the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC) Officer Cadet School. Except for the last few days of the course Barbara Maxwell wore her RAANC grey uniform and she won the ‘Scarf of Honour’ (dux) for the course.

Barbara Maxwell was fourth Director of the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps from 5th July 1977 to 14th March 1979. She was the first Director who had not previously served in Australia’s wartime army. Following her retirement from the Army Barbara Maxwell pursued a business career with her husband, Bruce Starrett. [1]

[1] Soldiers of the Queen by Janette Bomford p. 117

Events

• 1969 - 1972

  Major, chief instructor at the WRAAC School

• 1972 - 1974

  Lieutenant Colonel, assistant director WRAAC Headquarters Eastern Command at Victoria Barracks, Paddington

• 1974 - 1975

  Lieutenant Colonel, commanding officer and chief instructor at the WRAAC School

• 1975 - 1977

  Lieutenant Colonel, staff officer grade 1 at the Directorate of Service Conditions with the Department of Defence (Army), Canberra

• 1973 - 1974

  First servicewoman crew member of service-owned yacht in the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race

• 1954

  Member of the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces in Japan

• 1969 - 1972

  Involved in organization and conduct of collections for Red Cross, Austcare, etc., with Mosman City Council

• 1960

  Awarded top academic cadet prize

• 1978

  Awarded National Medal and Bar

• 1961 - 1962

  Lieutenant instructor and platoon commander of the WRAAC School Recruit Training Wing

• 1963 - 1964

  Lieutenant Adjutant and Quartermaster at the WRAAC Barracks, Melbourne

• 1964 - 1965

  Captain Staff Officer at the Royal Military College, Duntroon (Australian Capital Territory)

• 1966 - 1967

  Captain Staff Officer with the Department of Defence (Army Office)

• 1968

  Captain Staff Officer and Officer Commanding 6 WRAAC Headquaters Tasmania Command

• 1969

  Captain, senior instructor at the WRAAC School

• 1972

  Married (Lieutenant Colonel) Bruce Starrett

• 1977 - 1979

  Colonel, director of the WRAAC

• 1979 - 1991

  Colonel in Reserve of Officers Headquarters, 2nd Military District

• 1951 - 1959

  Served with the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps (RAANC)

• 1960

  Attended officer cadet course at Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC) School, Georges Heights

• 1974 - 1975

  Involved in organization and conduct of collections for Red Cross, Austcare, etc., with Mosman City Council

• 1977 - 1978

  Involved in establishment of WRAAC Association

• 1972 - 1979

  Member of the Royal Australian Naval Sailing Association

• 1954

  Awarded the British Commonwealth Occupation Force medal