The Australian Women's Register

Australian Women’s Army Service (AWAS) Association of Queensland was established in January 1981 with the aim of fostering and strengthening the ties between ex-members of the Australian Women’s Army Service (AWAS). The Association keeps in contact with members in Queensland as well as those living interstate and overseas.

To help in disseminating information a quarterly newsletter is sent to members advising them of Association activities. These include monthly meetings, luncheons, coach tours and fellowships.

The Association has placed AWAS plaques at various places around the world including the War Museum, Gallipoli; Australia House, London; University of Queensland, St Lucia; and in the ANZAC Square Crypt, Currumbin War Memorial, RSL Currumbin.

The Association participates in ANZAC Day Parades as well as organising its own reunions (Gold Coast – 1982, 1984, 1991, 1997, and 2001; Cairns – 1986, 1991 and 1995; Toowoomba 1989 and Townsville 1993).

Alma Hartshorn was a member of the Australian Student Christian Movement before she joined the Australian Women’s Army Service on 14 December 1942. She attended the first officer’s school and was later posted as Assistant Commandant Northern Command with the rank of Captain. Hartshorn was discharged on 1 March 1945.

Following the war, Hartshorn became a lecturer in Social Work at the University of Queensland. A member of the AWAS Association Qld, she became patron in 1995. For her academic and professional work, Alma Hartshorn was awarded an OAM (Member of the Order of Australia) on 26 January 1983, as well as a Fullbright Scholarship.

Ruby Rich was a significant figure in the Australian women’s movement in the interwar period. A concert pianist in London and Sydney, she was an early president of the Australian Federation of Women Voters and joined the Feminist Club in Sydney in 1923. She was instrumental in the formation of the Racial Hygiene Association of New South Wales in 1925. Over the next 50 years she was a member and office-holder in numerous feminist, family planning, peace, international and Jewish organisations.

Voluntary Aid Detachments were established during World War I by members of the Australian Red Cross and the Order of St John. Members received instruction in first aid and home nursing from the St John Ambulance Association. Initially they worked without pay in hospitals and convalescent homes alongside doctors and nurses. After the war the voluntary service continued. Recruits were drawn from the local area by invitation from a serving member. During the World War II Voluntary Aid Detachment members were given more medical training, but they were not fully qualified nurses. Voluntary Aides worked in convalescent hospitals, on hospital ships and in the blood bank, as well as on the home front.

In New South Wales Voluntary Aid Detachments are now part of the Voluntary Aid Service Corps (VASC). To become a member of the Corps, volunteers must hold a current Senior First Aid Certificate. Members provide free first aid at major sporting and cultural events as well as assistance in times of disaster.

Over the course of her life Alice Moss worked with a number of women’s organisations, as well as various education, child welfare and Red Cross societies. Educated at Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Melbourne, she married I H Moss in 1887 (deceased 1938) and they had two daughters. In 1914 she relinquished her position as vice-president of the Australian Women’s National League to become the only female member of the Victorian recruiting committee for the Armed Services. Later she became the only woman member of the Victorian Centenary Celebrations executive committee (1933-1934). At the same time she was president of the Women’s Centenary Council of Victoria as well as being the first president of the National Council of Women (1931-1936). On 4 June 1934 she was appointed Commander of the British Empire.

Following discharge from the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) ex-members expressed a desire to keep in contact. In 1946 the WAAAF Branch of the RAAF Association (Victoria Division) was established with this purpose in mind. Their main aim was to provide a meeting place for ex WAAAF to gather and share experiences and help with the transition from service to civilian life.

The Carlton Refuge was established in 1854 with the aim of reforming prostitutes through a combination of prayer and hard work, which usually meant laundry work. As some prostitutes were also mothers, the care of single mothers became a way of fulfilling its primary goal. By 1860 its role had changed to accepting young unmarried women on their discharge from hospital and by 1880 the major part of the Refuge’s work was with those women. Declining demand and alternative means of care brought about its closure in 1949.

The Council of Action for Equal Pay (CAEP) functioned as a single issue pressure group with affiliates from trade unions and women’s organisations. Its primary aim was to agitate for the implementation of equal pay through the dissemination of information and to support individual organisations in their fight for equal pay. Its formation marked the first conscious movement for equal pay in Australia. Muriel Heagney, a strong advocate of ‘the rate for the job’ was influential in its establishment and was the driving force of the organisation as its honorary secretary-treasurer from 1939 until its demise.

In response to the perceived needs of the ‘deserving poor’, the Melbourne Ladies Benevolent Society (MLBS) began operations as the Presbyterian Female Visiting Society in August 1845. By 1851, it was known as the MLBS, and retained that name until 1964, when it became the Melbourne Ladies’ Welfare Society. The Society supplied food, clothing and other necessities to the respectable poor at home, particularly women in the Fitzroy and surrounding areas. The MLBS was acknowledged as Melbourne’s principal relieving agency and played a major role in dispensing social service benefits until the 1940s, when the Commonwealth Government assumed a greater responsibility for social welfare.

Officially founded in 1902, with Janet Lady Clarke as president, and continuing today, the National Council of Women of Victoria is an umbrella organisation for a large and diverse number of affiliated Victorian women’s groups. It functions as a political lobby group, attempting to influence local, state and federal government. Like all National Councils of Women, it operates though a standing committee system whereby specific issues are brought before the Council and, if there is general agreement that a question should be taken up, a subcommittee is established to investigate the matter.
Until the 1940s at least, the Council was a major focal point for women’s activism.

Its initial aims were:
1. To establish a bond of union between the various affiliated societies.
2. To advance the interests of women and children and of humanity in general.
3. To confer on questions relating to the welfare of the family, the State and the Commonwealth.’

While encompassing a diverse range of organisations, the Council emerged as a largely middle-class women’s organisation especially in terms of its office bearers.

Although not always an overtly feminist organisation, the NCWV drew on the conviction that women had a special contribution to make to public life and the formulation of social policy. They were thus concerned with a wide array of social reform issues** as well as those more directly related to the legal and social status of women. It also drew on notions of gender unity and international sisterhood.

[Kate Gray, ‘The Acceptable Face of Feminism: the National Council of Women, 1902-1918’, MA thesis, University of Melbourne, 1988.]

The National Council of Women of Queensland is an umbrella organisation for a large and diverse number of affiliated Queensland women’s groups. It functions as a political lobby group, attempting to influence local, state and federal government.

Its aims are:
• ‘To unite associations and societies of women, or of men and women, into an organisation for mutual counsel and co-operation.
• To advance the interests of humanity, and to confer in questions relating to the welfare of the family, State and Commonwealth.
• To join with the National Councils of Women of other Australian States and Territories to form the National Council of Women of Australia which, in turn, is a member of the International Council of Women. (ICW)’

Founded in 1939, with Mrs Henrietta (Jessie) Daley as president, the National Council of Women of the Australian Capital Territory operates as an umbrella organisation for women’s groups in the Territory. It functions as a political lobby group, attempting to influence local, state and federal government.

Its eight initial affiliated societies were the Canberra Mothercraft Society, Canberra Relief Society, St John’s Church of England Ladies Guild, Presbyterian Church Ladies Guild, Canberra community Hospital Auxiliary, Canberra Croquet Club, Women’s Hockey Association and the Young Women’s Christian Association. The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union was another early member.

Some of its earliest issues of concern included censorship of films shown to children; offensive advertising; liquor trade reform; misbehaviour at the local swimming pool and the better provision of housing and other facilities in Canberra.

It was centrally involved in the foundation of institutions and services including the District Nursing Service, the Council of Social Service (ACT), the Child Guidance Clinic as well as services for the elderly.

It is affiliated with the National Council of Women Australia.

From 1976 until 2002 Helen Crisp was an Honorary Fellow with the University of Canberra (formerly Canberra College of Advanced Education). She was made a Member of the Order of Australia on 8 June 1981 for service to education.

The daughter of E and D Wighton, Crisp completed her education at Girton (Adelaide) before graduating from the universities of Adelaide and Oxford. She married Leslie Crisp (later a professor at the Australian National University) on 22 June 1940. Helen Crisp, a feminist who worked in the field of education, was a member of several women’s and social welfare organisations.

The Temporary Teachers’ Club was formed in October 1955 in response to pressure from the increasing numbers of qualified married women teachers who felt that marriage should not be a bar to permanent employment in the Victorian state teaching service. As a section of the Victorian Teachers’ Union, it maintained pressure on that organisation to negotiate with the Victorian Government to legislate for the removal of the marriage bar. It could claim qualified success when appropriate legislation was passed in October 1956.

On 6 November 1959 a memorial gateway to the first director of the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC) was erected at the entrance to WRAAC School, Georges Heights, Sydney and was opened by His Excellency the Governor of New South Wales, Lieutenant General Sir Eric Woodward KCMG, CB, CBE, DSO.

The design chosen for the gates was submitted by an Australian Regular Army (ARA) Sergeant, Juanita Feltham BEM. The design was symbolic of the life and work of Colonel Kathleen Best. The gates were relocated to the Royal Military College, Duntroon and rededicated on 6 November 1994.

After the death of Colonel Kathleen Best, an appeal was launched to erect memorial gates at the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corp (WRAAC) School at Georges Heights. Members and ex-members of the Corps were encouraged to submit designs and ideas. Sergeant Juanita Feltham’s design was selected. [1]

Juanita Feltham had joined the WRAAC to combine her wartime skills and experience with her post-war training in fine arts. Janette Bomford states in Soldiers of the Queen that Feltham had a successful army career producing training aids, posters, book illustrations, and terrain model making. [2]

Feltham’s design for the gates feature 47 gumleaf-shaped spikes that denote each year of Colonel Best’s life and her Australian nationality. The gate on the left represents her nursing career and the one on the right her contribution to the army, especially the WRAAC. The central cruciform design symbolises Christianity and her Royal Red Cross.

The memorial gates and commemoration plaque on the left pillar were made by apprentices at the Balcombe Army School and the stone-work carried out by the 17th Construction Squadron of the Royal Australian Engineers. The ceramic tiles on the right pillar were made by Klytie Pate and feature formation signs of all Australian commands. Prominence is given to the waratah, the emblem of New South Wales, and Colonel Best’s home state. [3]

Feltham became responsible for the graphics section of the newly formed Australian Army Audio-visual Unit, which had not had a female member until 1970 when two WRAAC members were appointed to the staff. [4]

On 13 June 1964 Warrant Officer 2 Juanita Cecila Feltham was appointed to the Order of the British Empire (Military).

[1] Soldiers of the Queen by Janette Bomford p. 47
[2] ibid p. 26
[3] ibid p. 47
[4] ibid p. 73

Sergeant Joy Linnane served with the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) during World War II. She enlisted on 11 April 1942 and was discharged on 7 December 1945.

After the war Linnane joined the Sydney WAAAF Branch and has been a member since 1956. During that time she has held the positions of vice-president, treasurer, state councillor and delegate to country branches.

The eldest daughter of medical practitioner, Percy and Lily (née Johnston) Shelton, Moira Dynon was educated at Presentation Convent, Elsternwick, Loreto Convent, Toorak and the University of Melbourne. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 1941, Dynon was commissioned in the Women’s Australian Auxiliary Air Force and assisted Wing Commander R J W Le Fevre with chemical warfare munitions. Following her discharge she became a research officer with the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories and later with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.

On 2 December 1950 she married John Dynon and they had five children. At this stage Dynon became involved with community organisations. These included the Catholic Mothers’ Club Federation, the Catholic Women’s Social Guild and the Australian Council of Catholic Women. In 1952 the Dynon’s established the Malvern branch of the United Nations Australia Association, Victorian division. In 1960 she initiated and ran an appeal to provide secondary education for Japanese children of returned Australian servicemen. Moira Dynon became chairman of the Aid for India and president of its successor Aid India. She also helped with famine-relief campaigns in Bengal, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

In 1941 Marion Stevens was one of the first 14 women to join the Royal Australian Navy. After two years at Harman she was transferred to Molongo and later to Cerberus for the Officer Training Course and then returned to Harman. After the war, with her beautiful singing voice, she joined the Gilbert and Sullivan Company and toured with them for two years. When the WRANS were reformed she was recalled and transferred back to HMAS Harman as Second Officer. Stevens stayed until 1956. On retirement she joined Paton and Baldwins. At HMAS Harman a street called ‘Marion Stevens’ honours the work she did there during the war. [1] Steven’s achievements were acknowledged with the renaming of the HMAS Harman Wardroom Dining Room in her honour.

Marjorie Elsie Taylor was a foundation member of the Ex-WRANS Association. She served as a telegraphist with the Naval Control Office in Melbourne during the Second World War.

Jess Prain was one of the first fourteen women to join the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in 1941 and was stationed at Harman. From here she was drafted to Kuttabul where she was the first Petty Officer in Sydney. She did an Officer Training Course and returned to Harman as Third Officer. After her discharge in 1946 she was a welfare officer for Berlei and was recalled to the Navy in 1951 to train new recruits. Prain was Officer-in-Charge Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS) at Flinders Naval Depot until 1954 and retired as First Officer. Married to Denis, Jess Doyle became Appeals Officer for Legacy (Sydney). [1]

Major Hilda Florence Meyer was appointed Assistant Controller Australian Army Medical Women’s Service (AAMWS) Land Headquarters (L.H.Q) and she served in this capacity from November 1942 until August 1944. She attended the third Australian Women’s Services Administrative School in Melbourne, which was established in 1943, to gain advanced training in Army organisation and administration. Courses were held at the school between October 1943 and July 1945. Major Meyer was appointed Deputy Assistant Controller AAMWS Headquarters, Western Command, to administer the movement and placement of AAMWS in Western Australian medical units between 1944 and 1945.

Source used to compile this entry: From Blue to Khaki by Betty Mount-Batten p. 48

Joan Christie was promoted to the rank of Major during the Second World War. In 1943 she worked in New Guinea supervising members of the Australian Army Medical Women’s Service.

Joan is acknowledged as the driving force behind the establishment of both the Orana Community TAFE College and the Dubbo campus of Charles Sturt University.

Mrs Joyce Snelling, who enlisted in the Australian Army in 1942, had previously been the Voluntary Aid Commandant of the Scottish Detachment No. 9218 (which was affiliated with the New South Wales Scottish Regiment), was commissioned as a Lieutenant and organised the first Voluntary Aid training school at Ingleburn. In April 1942 Mrs Snelling was appointed Assistant Controller and Honorary Secretary of the Joint State Council whose membership included the Order of St John and the Australian Red Cross Society and held this post until her enlistment in the Army. Lt Joyce Snelling served at Victoria Barracks where she attained the rank of Major on 28 February 1943 when she became Assistant Controller Australian Army Medical Women’s Service NSW Lines of Communication Area.

In 1950 Major Snelling was elected President of the Ex-AAMWS Association and held this position for 25 years. She was a Vice-Patron of the Association and a life member. From 1966 until 1973 she was President of the Ex-AAMWS Association of NSW.

On 1 January 1972 Joyce Snelling was appointed to the Order of the British Empire – Member (Civil) for her service to ex-servicewomen.

From the 1960s Ethel Lane devoted her time to helping service organisations. A member of the Australian Army Nursing Service during World War II, Lane was associated with the Returned & Services League as well as the War Widows’ Guild of Australia.

Lane was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) on 11 June 1990 and appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire on 30 December 1978 for service to the community, in the field of veterans’ welfare.

President of the Women’s Services Sub-Branch of the RSL, Alice Penman served with the Australian Army during World War II. She served in the Middle East as a Voluntary Aid Detachment member and then in Far North Queensland. Penman later served with the Australian Army Medical Women’s Service (AAMWS) after the Government of the time decided to distinguish between military and non-military Voluntary Aids.

During the ‘Australia Remembers, 1945-1995’ celebrations Penman participated in a number of functions emphasizing the work carried out by the Voluntary Aid Detachment Red Cross members.

On 13 June 1993 she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to veterans particularly through the Returned & Services League New South Wales and to the Friends of the Northcott Neurological Centre.