Andrews speaks on women in war

Member for Peats, Ms Marie Andrews, has spoken in State Parliament of the important roles played by the women of Australia in all conflicts in which Australia has been involved.

In a speech made in the lead-up to Anzac Day, she paid homage to those who had given their lives in the First and Second World Wars and in all other conflicts in which Australia has been involved.

Ms Andrews then "placed on record" the important role played by the spouses and mothers of the members of Australia’s Armed Forces.

"Many of these brave women raised entire families on their own.

"In addition, a number nursed husbands shattered by their war experiences long after the guns had become silent.

"Very often those women are treated as the unsung heroines of our society.

"Their loyalty and dedication to their families deserve to be recognised, and they are entitled to be well cared for as they grow older," Marie Andrews said.

"Let us not forget the hundreds and thousands of Australians, many of them females, who were employed in essential industries.

"In the Second World War, it is interesting to note that the total number of persons employed in Australian factories increased from 565,106 in 1938-39 to 766,506 in 1943-1944.

"During that same period, 1943-44, approximately one million Australians were in uniform."

Ms Andrews said that Prime Minister John Curtain was on record as stating: "Behind the fighting men in the front line is our second line of men and women engaged in the production of supplies and equipment for the forces.

"Behind these again are those engaged in producing, processing, transporting and commercially organising the innumerable items of supplies and essential services without which the nation’s resistance would collapse."

Ms Andrews told parliament that the role in which women played in Australia’s war efforts has been understated.

She said it was very often overlooked that women entered numerous factories and workshops throughout the country where females had never before been employed.

Women also drove trams, buses and taxis, and worked as bread and milk carters, railway porters, telephonists at police headquarters, and in other positions previously carried out only by men.

In early March 1944, more than 52,000 women were engaged in the Armed Forces, she said.

"This included more than 18,000 in the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force; 1800 in the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service; 19,700 in the Australian Women’s Army Service; 9,200 in the nursing services, which included the Australian Army Medical Women’s Service, an auxiliary of the Australian Army Medical Corps; and 2500 members and 630 auxiliary members of the official Australian Women’s Land Army having been established under the Director-General of Manpower in July 1942."

Ms Andrews acknowledged the thousands of women who joined volunteer organisations, such as the Red Cross and Country Women’s Association, and made an invaluable contribution to Australia’s war efforts.

It was important to note that Australian nurses served in the Boer War and in every conflict in which Australia has participated since then, she said.

Media release, April 24