The Australian Women's Register

Jean Crittenden began nursing in 1937 as a Bush Nursing Sister. Crittenden then served with the Australian Army Nursing Service between 1940 and 1946. Assistant Matron at the Repatriation General Hospital in Heidelberg from 1946 to 1955, she then became matron of Queensland’s Anzac Hostel and the Kenmore Sanatorium. Following this, from 1958 until 1971, Crittenden was Matron of the Repatriation General Hospital in Hobart from 1958 to 1971. In 1966, she received the honour of being appointed a Member to the Order of the British Empire in 1966.

Major Jessie Perkins MBE, RFD, ED (Retd) was the first Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC) Citizen Military Forces (CMF) member to be awarded an MBE. She was appointed a Member (Military) to the Order of the British Empire on 13 June 1970, for her services to the WRAAC.

Stella Swinney completed her Bachelor of Arts at Sydney University and then worked at Farmer & Coy Ltd, Sydney, before joining the Women’s Australian National Services and the Australian Women’s Army Service. After completing a course at the Officers’ Training School she was posted to New South Wales Line of Command Area. Swinney was responsible for training and administration of the Australian Women’s Army Service in New South Wales. She took over from Major Eleanor Manning as Assistant Controller of New South Wales in May 1943.

During World War II Gwenneth Gehan served with the Australian Women’s Army Service, having been a member of the Women’s Australian National Services previously. Upon completion of the Officers’ Training Course she was posted to the Quartermaster’s Department, Victoria Barracks, Sydney. Later she transferred to the Recruit Training School, Killara and towards the end of 1942 accompanied a draft of Signalwomen to Queensland. At the time of her discharge on 23 April 1946 Gehan held the rank of Major.

Australian Women’s Army Service Association (WA) Inc. was formed in Perth, Western Australia 1947. It was originally established to extend welfare assistance, promote social gatherings and foster goodwill to former members of the Australian Women’s Army Service, especially by way of annual reunions. As the need arose the Association become involved with pension and aged care assistance.

A foundation staff member of the Canberra College of Advanced Education (now University of Canberra), Elsie Solly was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia. On 26 January 1983 she received the award for service to education, particularly in the field of secretarial studies. In 1977 she was awarded the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal. President of the Australian Women’s Army Service Association (Western Australia) Inc., Solly was on the original committee of the Association when established in 1947. Solly was also president of the Association of Academic Staff during her term with the Canberra College of Advanced Education. In 2003 Elsie Solly was awarded a Centenary of Federation medal for services to the veterans’ community.

The Women Justices’ Association of Victoria was formed in Melbourne on 30 June 1938 with the aim of uniting women justices, women special magistrates and women commissioners for the taking of affidavits throughout Victoria, all honorary appointments, ‘in a bond of mutual help and support’. It worked to increase the number of appointments of women and to encourage those women to exercise their privileges. It remained active until 1971 when declining numbers, the result of fewer women available for voluntary work, forced it reconsider its role. In 1972 it reformed to become the Australian branch of the International Association of Youth Magistrates.

The Women Principals Association (Victoria), as it was known from the late 1960s, was formed in July 1940 as the Association of Head Mistresses of Girls’ Schools. Its membership comprised the Head Mistresses of the thirteen government girls’ schools in existence at that time. It aimed ‘to discuss topics of general educational interest and particularly matters bearing directly on girls’ schools and their organisation’. It advocated strongly for the interests of students in girls’ schools to ensure that they enjoyed the same conditions and opportunities as students in boys or co-educational high schools. In the 1970s it vigorously defended the retention of girls’ schools in the state education system.

The Victorian Medical Women’s Society (VMWS), the pioneer medical women’s organisation in Australia, was founded in 1896 as the Women’s Medical Association, at the University of Melbourne Medical School. It was established to forge a closer relationship between medical women graduates and undergraduates and to promote the interests of medical women and further their professional development by education, research and improvement of professional opportunities.
By 1898 it had evolved into a postgraduate society, with meetings held in the consulting rooms of members. In 1927 it formed part of the Australian Federation of Medical Women. It continues to promote the health and welfare of all Australians, in particular women and children.

It promotes the health and welfare of all Australians, in particular women and children.

The National Council of Women of Western Australia was founded in 1911, largely due to the efforts of Lady Edeline Strickland (wife of the Governor of Western Australia) who became its first president. It is a non-party, non-sectarian, umbrella organisation for a large and diverse number of affiliated women’s groups in Western Australia.

It functions as a political lobby group, attempting to influence local, state and federal government. The Council has supported a wide range of social reform activities, particularly those related to education and to women’s, children’s and family welfare. While not an overtly feminist organisation, it provided a major focus for, predominantly middle-class, women’s activism until at least the 1940s. Unlike many other states, however, the Council had strong competition from the Women’s Service(s) Guild of Western Australia for leadership of the women’s movement.

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.’

Alice Corry was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia on 26 January 1987 for services to ex-servicemen and women. She joined the Australian Women’s Army Service on 27 August 1942, aged 16. Following completion of the recruiting course she transferred to Victoria and served at Land Headquarters as a signalwoman. At the time of her discharge on 12 March 1946 she had obtained the rank of Corporal. In 1947 she married Mervyn J Corry in Perth. At the Annual General Meeting in 1969, Corry was elected President of the Australian Women’s Army Service Association (WA), a post she held for 29 years. Honoured with being chosen to unveil the Western Australian memorial to Sybil Irving she was also the first Life Member of the Association in 1974. Corry was also involved with her church, her husband’s Corvettes’ Association, the Red Cross and the Braille Society.

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.

Leading Aircraftwoman (LACW) Kathleen Pearson was appointed to the Order of the British Empire (Military) on 25 January 1955 for brave conduct in a fire in a barracks. In June 1954, while stationed at No. 1 Stores Depot, Tottenham, she and another servicewoman of the Women’s Royal Australian Air Force (WRAAF) were in the recreation room. While talking and standing before an open fire, Pearson’s companion’s clothing caught fire. Pearson attempted to extinguish the flames but the other servicewoman, frightened and screaming, tried to run. Pearson caught her, threw her to the ground and rolled her in nearby carpet to extinguish the flames before seeking assistance. Pearson received second-degree burns, and her companion recovered. For her actions LACW Kathleen Pearson was appointed to the Order of the British Empire (BEM).

For lifesaving after the ship Centaur was attacked by a Japanese submarine, Lieutenant Ellen Savage was awarded the George Medal on 22 August 1944.

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.

After her husband’s death in 1896 Jessie White commenced general nursing training at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Victoria. She completed her midwifery training at the Women’s Hospital (later Royal) in 1901. Five years later she was in charge and running her own private hospital as well as serving as a reservist in the Australian Army Nursing Service.

When war broke out in 1914, she enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service, rising through the ranks to be appointed Principal Matron of the Australian Army Nursing Service in December 1915.

Millie Best was one of the first two women elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly. Throughout her life she was a dedicated community and voluntary worker including being a commandant in the Voluntary Aid Detachment Canteen Services during World War II.

On 2 January 1956 Amelia Best was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to social welfare.

On 15 March 1941 Peg Cockburn (later Utting) was one of “The Original Mob” who enrolled in the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) at the No 1 RAAF Recruit Centre. After completing a “rookie training” course she was employed as a teleprinter operator and trainer during World War II. Peg Utting was one of the servicewomen that the WAAAF used for recruiting photographs.

On 17 March 1946, Wing Officer Audrey Herring was appointed to the position of Staff Officer in the Directorate of Personal Services Women’s Auxiliary Australian Airforce (WAAAF). Previously the Deputy Director WAAAF since 17 November 1943, in this new appointment Herring became responsible for all WAAAF matters.

Prior to joining the WAAAF, Herring worked as a journalist at the Courier Mail in Brisbane and also wrote for Women’s Weekly before she worked on Fleet Street, London, in 1937. Following the outbreak of the World War II she returned to Brisbane and became a Red Cross volunteer, at times cooking breakfasts for servicemen on leave.

After joining the WAAAF, Herring completed the No 1 administrative course at Methodist Ladies College, Kew. During her time in the Service she was promoted through the ranks and before being discharged was effectively in charge of the organisation.

In 1947 Herring was recruited by Sir Keith Murdoch to become the women’s editor for the Herald and Weekly Times. She left the company in March 1948 to marry Dr John Craig and the couple moved to Western Australia.

In Perth Audrey Craig became involved with community services. She was a member of the Western Australian branch of the Save the Children Fund and sponsored children from destitute backgrounds for 35 years. Also she was a board member of the Western Australian Hospital Benefits Fund for 15 years as well as being a friend of the Royal Perth Hospital for 25 years and a financial supporter of the Bible Society of Australia.

Audrey Craig died on 11 May 1994 in Western Australia.

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.