The Australian Women's Register

Amy Taylor was elected Chair of the Council of Ex-Servicewomen’s Associations in 2005.

The daughter of Sir Henry and Lady Manning, Eleanor Manning was a member of the Women’s Australian National Services and became the most senior officer of the Australian Women’s Army Service in the State of New South Wales.

When the Australian Women’s Army Service was established in October 1941, Manning was appointed Assistant Controller, Eastern Command with the rank of Major. She with other first appointments attended the first Officers Training School held at Yarra Junction, Victoria in November, 1941. At the conclusion of the training, Major Manning returned to Sydney and commenced duty at Headquarters Victoria Barracks, Sydney. She and her staff were responsible for the recruitment and initial training of all Australian Women’s Army Service enlistments in New South Wales.

Other appointments held by Major Manning in the AWAS were:-
– 1943 Deputy Controller to the Controller, Colonel Sybil H Irving MBE, Australian Women’s Army Service, at their Headquarters in Melbourne.
– Commanding Officer, Australian Women’s Services Officers’ School, Darley, Victoria. This post combined the training of both the Australian Women’s Army Service and the Australian Army Medical Women Service Officers, and she remained there until the termination of her appointment.

On the 13 June 1959, Eleanor Manning was appointed an Officer to the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services as Chief Commissioner of the Girl Guides Association of Australia.

Margaret Anderson enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service at Dandenong (Victoria) on 19 September 1941.

On 12 February 1942, three days before the fall of Singapore, the freighter, Empire Star sailed from Singapore Harbour. The ship which normally had an allocation of space for 20 passengers was carrying over 2100 people. While on route to Batavia the ship came under enemy fire and received three direct hits. During one of the raids two of the Australian nursing staff on board, Sisters Margaret Anderson and Vera Torney, came on deck to attend to the wounded. They protected their patients by covering them with their bodies.

Staff Nurse Margaret Anderson was awarded the George Medal on 22 September 1942 for her bravery when the ship was attacked by enemy aircraft. Staff Nurse Vera Torney was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (Military).

On 4 June 1946 Lieutenant Margaret Anderson was discharged from the Australian Army Nursing Service.

Originally a ballerina in Perth, Western Australia, Joan Dowson served throughout World War II as a nurse. She continued her association with the Australian Red Cross throughout her life.

The War Widows’ Guild Of Australia was established in Victoria by the late Mrs Jessie Mary Vasey CBE, OBE. The broad aims of the Guild were to watch over and protect the interests of war widows. Qualification for membership of the Guild was restricted to widows of men who were killed on active service or whose deaths were accepted as being war-caused and were therefore in receipt of a war widow’s pension. Later, widows of interned civilians who received a repatriation war widows’ pension were included, as were widows of allied ex-servicemen.

Formerly President of the War Widows’ Guild of South Australia, Janet Mayo was elected National President of the War Widows’ Guild of Australia following the death of her predecessor, Jessie Vasey, in 1966.

In June 1946, following the establishment of a War Widows’ Craft Guild in Victoria, a Guild was formed in New South Wales.

The purpose of the Guild was to enable war widows in NSW to live their lives with dignity and support to meet their ongoing and emerging needs.

With the setting-up of the Guild, craft work got under way almost immediately, commencing with sock and glove-making classes. By November, the guild shop was opened in Rowe Street, to sell craft goods made by members and other saleable goods. Although Victoria was planning a guild shop, NSW was first to establish one. The NSW Guild closed its handicraft school in December 1951 and sold the equipment to members, but the shop was to remain open, a good money-spinner for the Guild, until September 1960. [1]

From 1953 to 1988, the Guild in NSW built 13 blocks of units at nine locations. After selling two housing properties, at the time of writing (April 2003) the Guild provides a total of 198 self-care, one-bedroom units of retirement housing in seven Sydney locations.

In 2002 and 2003, President Marie Beach and Chief Executive Officer Patricia Campbell represented The War Widows’ Guild of NSW Inc. on the Women in War Project working group.

Dr Rhonda Sharp is a leader in the field of feminist economics, nationally and internationally, in both academia and applied policy work.

The second daughter of Vance and Nettie (née Higgins) Palmer, Helen Palmer spent a year in London after being educated at Presbyterian Ladies’ College (Melbourne) where she was dux in 1934. Returning to Melbourne she won a scholarship to the University of Melbourne and graduated with a BA and DipEd in 1939. She later obtained a B.Ed. (1952). From 1940 until 1942 she was a teacher in Victorian State schools.

Helen Palmer enlisted in the Women’s Australian Auxiliary Air Force on 18 February 1942 and during her service worked in the education division. After the war she worked with the Commonwealth Office of Education (Sydney). In 1948 she returned to Melbourne teaching in private schools.

She made several trips to China and in 1953 published her observations in An Australian Teacher in China. Through the bi-monthly publication Outlook (1957-1970), Helen Palmer provided a forum for vigorous discussion of all issues which were part of a radical critique of Australian politics and society.

The author (with Jessie MacLeod) of First Hundred Years (1954) and After the First Hundred Years (1961), she also authored books on Australian literature, popular culture and history. Helen Palmer was also a prominent poet and balladist and is remembered for ‘The Ballard of 1891,’ that describes the shearers’ strike.

Helen Palmer died on 6 May 1979.

Sarina Jan is a Bardi descendent (Nyul Nyul clan) from the Kimberley region (Family name: Hunter) and is strong in her Aboriginality, identity and culture. She is also of Chinese descent and is proud of her Asian ancestry.

Sarina completed her Bachelor of Arts (Public Relations) and Bachelor of Business (Marketing) in 1996 making her the first Aboriginal person in Western Australia to graduate in both of these specialised fields. She later became the first Aboriginal person to become a member of both the Public Relations Institute of Australia and the Australian Marketing Institute.

Amirah Inglis was a devoted and active member of the Communist Party in Australia during the politically turbulent Menzies era. Her autobiographical works describe the difficulties and confusion of growing up a migrant in Australia, born of Polish-Jewish parents. She has also written essays, reviews and books on Papua New Guinea, and on the Spanish Civil War.

The hammer & sickle and the washing up: memories of an Australian woman Communist includes descriptions of Amirah’s life in Canberra in the 1960s, and her marriage to academic Ken Inglis.

The Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps was formed from the Royal Australian Army Nursing Service and the Australian Army Medical Women’s Service. Since being established members of the service have served in many theatres of war and other operations including Vietnam, the 1991 Gulf War, Cambodia, Rwanda, Bougainville and East Timor.

Kathleen Deasey was appointed assistant-controller Australian Women’s Army Service (AWAS), Southern Command in November 1941. Prior to joining the AWAS, Deasey was lady superintendent at Melbourne’s Ladies College, Melbourne. Following World War II, Deasey worked with the Department of Immigration, after which she studied at the Sorbonne, Paris. Later Deasey returned to teaching and was a senior tutor in education at the University of Melbourne and then became Principal of St Ann’s College, University of Adelaide.

The Sydney & Metropolitan Ex-Prisoners of War Welfare Association was established in 1999 after the NSW Ex-Prisoner of War (POW) Association and the NSW Ex-Prisoner of War (POW) Ladies Auxiliary were disbanded.

The main objectives of the Association are to:
• affirm and promote loyalty to Her Majesty the Queen and the Commonwealth of Australia.
• protect and promote the interests of Ex-Prisoners of War, their spouses, and widows of Ex-Prisoners of War.
• promote friendship and good fellowship between members by way of meetings, visitations and welfare where necessary.
• collect, raise money and receive donations for the carrying out of these objects or for any charitable purpose or for the benefit directly or indirectly of Ex-Prisoners of War, their spouses, and widows of Ex-Prisoners of War.

Membership of the Association is open to any person who was a member of the New South Wales Ex-Prisoners of War Association Inc, or who would have been eligible to become a member. Members of the Ladies Auxiliary of the New South Wales Ex-Prisoners of War Association Inc, or any person who is a spouse or widow of an Ex-Prisoner of War, can make an application to become a member.

Members have regularly visited patients in their homes, nursing homes and hospitals, especially the Concord Repatriation Hospital (now Concord General Hospital). They have also involved themselves in specific projects such as obtaining special patient chairs for the Concord Repatriation Hospital or furniture for the Rose Garden at the hospital. These acquisitions were made with the help of members’ fundraising activities including selling of poppies, Remembrance Day and Anzac Badges as well as running trade tables, garage sales and garden parties.

The Australian Army Nursing Service, which was actually a reserve, was established on 1 July 1902. The Service was staffed by volunteer civilian nurses who would be available for duty during times of national emergency. Members of the Service served in both the World Wars, staffing medical facilities in Australia and overseas. In 1949 the Service became part of the Australian Regular Army and is now known as the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps (RAANC).

IMPORTANT – Additional information about how to search for your own relative’s records can be found below. Click on details and scroll to the end.

Dawn Jackson was born in Kent, England, the daughter of Major-General R E Jackson CMG, DSO. Educated at St Catherine’s Church of England Girls School, Sydney, she served with the Voluntary Aid Detachment and subsequently with the Australian Army Women’s Medical Service. She was a member of the Australian Imperial Forces from 1941 to 1947 and saw service in the Middle East and New Guinea. Colonel Jackson was associated with the combined training of the Army Women’s Services Training Company and the Army Women’s Services Officers School.

On 2 December 1957 Dawn Jackson was appointed the second Director of the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps, a post she held until February 1972.

Dawn Jackson was appointed to The Order of the British Empire – Officer (Military) on 11 June 1960 for her services to the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps.

Colonel Dawn Jackson died on 20 January 1995 in Canberra.

Kathleen Fowler enlisted in the Australian Women’s Army Service in 1943 and served in a variety of postings until demobilisation in 1947. She re-enlisted in the Women’s Royal Australian Army Service in April 1951. From 1961 she was directly involved in planning and administration of the WRAAC. On 23 Feb. 1972 she became the third Director of WRAAC and remained in the position until 4 July 1977.

Colonel Fowler was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia on 9 June 1975.

Source used to compile this entry: A Stroll Down Memory Lane: A Brief History of the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps.

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

Colonel Dulcie Verinder’s appointment was “Head of Corps”, rather than Director. She graduated from the first WRAAC Officer Cadet Course in December 1952, and served in various capacities with the WRAAC, including five years as Chief Instructor at the WRAAC School.

In 1976 Dulcie Verinder was promoted to Colonel. At that time she was the only female officer to have been promoted to Colonel for appointment outside her Corps.

Colonel Dulcie Elizabeth Verinder was Head of the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps from 1979 until 1981. On 14 July 1977 she was awarded the National Medal.

On 1 June 1953 May Douglas was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, in recognition for her service as Commissioner of Girl Guides in South Australia. She was also awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia on 26 January 1997 for service to veterans, particularly through the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps Association, and the Australia Remembers 1945-1995 Celebrations.

Made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) on 9 June 1980, Lady Cutler had previously been awarded Dame of the Order of St John of Jerusalem (1977) and Commander of the Order of St John of Jerusalem (1965).

Helen Morris married Roden Cutler (Governor New South Wales (NSW) 1966-1981) on 28 May 1946 and they had four sons. She was educated at Sydney Church of England Girls’ Grammar School and served with the Australian Women’s Army Service from 1942 to 1946.

Patron of the Children’s Book Council of Australia (NSW), Lady Cutler received an Honorary Fellow from the NSW College of Nursing. She was President of the NSW Division of the Save the Children Fund, Vice-President of the Girl Guides’ Association (NSW), Vice-President of the St John Ambulance Brigade and Honorary Colonel of the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps 1967 to 1985.

The Australian Army Medical Women’s Service (AAMWS) was established in December 1942. At that stage it was decided to distinguish between Voluntary Aid Detachments, whose governing body was the Joint State Council in each State and the Joint Central Council (the Commonwealth authority), and Voluntary Aids who were serving at Military Hospitals on a full-time basis under Army control. [1]

Author Patsy Adam-Smith, herself a member of the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) who joined the AAMWS, states in Australian Women at War:

From that date [December 1942], the Service’s officers and soldiers were subject to military law and to the provisions of the Defence Act, the Army Act and the Rules of Procedure…’The majority of the original recruits for the AAMWS were drawn from the ranks of the Voluntary Aid Detachments, and the experience they already had was of great benefit in their work in military hospitals, both home and overseas.’

In July 1949 the Australian Army Medical Women’s Service became part of the Regular Army. Two years later The Service was disbanded and its duties were incorporated into the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps.

[1] Australian Women at War p. 194 and From Blue to Khaki p. 50

When established, the aim of the Ex-AAMWS (Australian Army Medical Women’s Service) Association of New South Wales Inc. was to maintain friendships formed during World War II as well as assisting members in whatever way possible. This includes the dissemination of information about pensions and benefits through their quarterly publication Pulse. Members also support a range of charities, care for frail members and participate in marches, wreath laying ceremonies and reunions.

In 1946 the Women’s Services Sub-Branch of the Returned and Services League (RSL) received its Charter.

Membership to the League is open to:
• Those who served in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in either of the two World Wars
• or in any theatre of conflict; or served overseas for not less than six months as a member of an approved peace-keeping force;
• or served for not less than six months in the regular or reserve forces of the ADF,
• or of any country not an enemy of Australia (shorter service can also qualify if discharge was honourable and for reasons beyond an individual’s control);
• or if you are an Australian or allied citizen and served with or in support of the ADF or allied forces in any theatre or conflict;
• or served during World War II, as a member of the Australian Women’s Land Army or as a member of a Voluntary Aid Detachment in a military or convalescent hospital. [1]

[1] http://www.rslnsw.com.au/index.cfm?page=237

A member of the New South Wales Army Nursing Service Reserve (NSWANSR), Bessie Pocock served in the Boer War. She was awarded the Queen’s and the King’s South Africa medals and mentioned in despatches. Once again Pocock enlisted in the defence force at the outbreak of World War I. Serving in Cairo and Ismailia (Egypt) Pocock was later a matron on hospital ships. On 2 May 1916 Bessie Pocock was awarded the Royal Red Cross Medal (2nd class) for her service with the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS).

Dorothy Cawood commenced her nursing training in 1909, and on 14 November 1914 enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). On 22 July 1917, while attached to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station at Armentieres, Cawood along with two other sisters, Clare Deacon and Alice Ross-King (later Appleford), evacuated patients from burning buildings while the station was being bombed. All three sisters were awarded Military Medals for their action. Later, while stationed at the 6th Australian General Hospital, Cawood was mentioned in despatches for ‘distinguished and gallant service in the field’. At the end of the war, Cawood joined the nursing staff at the State Hospital (Liverpool) and in 1928 became matron at the David Berry Hospital, Berry, a position she held until her retirement in 1943.

Dorothy Cawood never married and died on 16 February 1962.

Orphaned at the age of five, Ethel Davidson grew up with her half-brothers and sisters – children from her father’s first marriage. After completing her nursing training at Adelaide Hospital, she worked in district and private nursing.

In 1904 Davidson became a reserve member of the Australian Army Nursing Service, enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force in 1914. During World War I she was stationed at Mena, Cairo, where she was mentioned in despatches. She was awarded the Royal Red Cross Medal, 2nd class, for her nursing service in England and France. On 3 June 1919 Davidson was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Military) for services to army nursing.

After leaving the army, Davidson became matron of the military hospital at Keswick (SA), a post she held until her retirement in 1933. From 1922 to 1926 she was president of the Returned Army Nurses’ Association of South Australia. In 1924 the Association became a sub-branch of the Returned Sailors’ and Soldiers’ Imperial League.

Ethel Davidson never married and died on 21 April 1939. She is buried in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) cemetery, West Terrace, Adelaide.