AWAS on Rottnest - WF53196 MATHER
1943Documentation relating to the AWAS service of WF53196 Private Shirley Joyce Mather from West Perth
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The Australian Women’s Army Service (AWAS) was formed in late 1941, two years after the outbreak of World War 2. Australian women had been agitating for some time for the chance to join the War Effort. They wanted to do “real work, not knit sock for the men.” The primary aim of AWAS was to release men from some military duties so they could be deployed in fighting units.
Initial recruitment was for duties associated with “women’s work”, clerks, cooks and typists, still being done my male soldiers. Beginning in early 1942 as invading Japanese swept through the South West Pacific towards Australia, many more military trades were opened to women including signals, weapons plotting, drivers, which involved close contact with the coast defence systems on Rottnest.
This collection brings together the stories of women in the Australian Women’s Army Service who were deployed on Rottnest Island as part of the defences of Fortress Fremantle from 30 September 1942 onward. The content is based on a “Saluting Their Service” exhibition developed by the Rottnest Voluntary Guides on the 80th Anniversary of this deployment. The exhibition was presented at Kingstown Barracks, Rottnest Island from 8-9 October 2022 and at the Australian Army Museum of Western Australia from 9 – 17 November 2022.
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Nearest geotagged records:
- World War 1, Europe, MORRIS, 11 Battalion, 1917 (0.18km away)
- Attendees to 1946 State Conference (0.27km away)
- Group of Members on the steps of the CWA Club - Kendenup (0.27km away)
- Interior of Handcraft Room 1170 Hay Street West Perth (0.27km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 1748 BRENNAN, 10 Light Horse (0.3km away)
- Two storey house, Havelock St, West Perth (0.35km away)
- World War 1, Australia Western Australia, ZIESLER, 28 Battalion, 1916 (0.42km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 223 KIDSON, 10 Light Horse (0.43km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, SHERWOOD, 10 Light Horse (0.45km away)
- World War 1, Europe, ZIESLER, 51st Battalion, 1918 (0.45km away)
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Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Other items from Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF95023 SKITCH
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96130 SHEARER (nee KILGARIFF)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90382 SHOLL (nee WINNER)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94881 STANLEY (nee DUNSTAN)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96462 STOCKDALE (married COOPER)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90465 SWEET (married WADE)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF95137 TAYLOR
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96783 THOMPSON (married ADAMS)
- AWAS on Rottnest - W45571 WALTON
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90140 WARREN (married OHRT)
- AWAS on Rottnest WF2918 WATERS
- AWAS on Rottnest WF96294 WHITE