Australian Women

during war time

By Rachel, Tamara, Abby and India

Summary
- During the second World War, Australian men were sent in their
hundreds of thousands to areas such as: North Africa, Greece, Crete,
SyriaLebanon, Malaya, Singapore, New Guinea, Bougainvile, New
Britain and Borneo, which left many jobs open.
- At home women had to raise children, manage households and deal
with the grief that war brought, which included the deaths of loved
ones.
- Shortage of men, it was soon concluded that women needed to be
recruited.
- Women then started to work in jobs; they worked in factories, shipyards
and some agricultural roles as well.
- The Australian Womens Land Army (volunteer force) sent women out
from the cities to work on farms: ploughing, harvesting and milking
cows.
- Nursing was a dangerous service during the war. Many nurses were

Analysis of primary source material

This poster displays a strong
woman figure working in the
factories during the time of
World War 2.
During this time many women
would work long and hard
hours in factories
manufacturing goods for
soldiers overseas such as,
uniforms and other useful
items.

This poster displays the women from different forces that were
available for those who were interested at the time. Australian
women were encouraged to contribute to the war effort by
joining one of the female branches of the armed forces or
participating in the labour force.

This image is a very important one in the sense that it displays

women on a farm. This is an important image because at the
time of World War 2, while the husbands, brother and sons went
off and fought overseas, most women stayed home and
maintained their farm land and property.

Quote from a historian

This quote is from a letter to the editor
The suggestion to form an army of women to
do the hard work of farms is ridiculous. Our
women are wonderful, but is it fair to ask them
to shear or crutch sheep, to plough the land?
- The Argus, 1941
This article suggests that women shouldnt be the ones working
on the farm and looking after the animals. But while the men are
fighting at war, there isnt anyone else to do it.

Margaret Anderson
- Brave, committed and selfless woman.
- Wanted to help She enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service at
Dandenong, Victoria on 19th September, 1941.
- On 12th February 1942, she was on board a ship called the Empire Star.
- Was sailing out of Singapore Harbour with over 2100 people when it only
had the allocation of space for 20 people.
- Ship was being bombed by the enemy. Gunshots were going off in all
directions.
- Hit by three bombs.
- Nurses on board thought the attack was over, started pulling the wounded
men onto the deck.
- The raid wasnt over.
- Margaret covered the wounded men with her body, putting her life on the
line.
- She risked her life for the men that were already wounded.
- made it back to Australia safely.
- She was discharged from the Australian Army Nursing Service on 4 th June,
1946.
- Gas awarded the George Medal on 22 September 1942 for her bravery

This is a picture of Margaret in the hospital bed

The George Medal which she received

Painting of Margaret Anderson done in Sydney, New South

Wales 1943

Bibliography
http://
ergo.slv.vic.gov.au/explore-history/australia-wwii/ho
me-wii/roles-women-wwii
http://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_front_during_World_War_I
I

http://www.funtrivia.com/en/subtopics/australian-wo
men-at-war-173181.html
http://trove.nla.gov.au/people/766072?c=people
http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/REL24178.001