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The Women’s Australian National Service (WANS) was inaugurated in 1940. Training for members of the WANS included air raid drills, first aid, basic military drills, and even shooting, signalling, and mechanics. In the period leading up to the formation of the Australian Women’s Army Service (AWAS), the WANS demonstrated that women were capable of filling roles traditionally filled by men. Sir Percy Spender, Australia’s Minister for the Army, considered women to be an underutilised resource in Australia’s war effort. Consequently, he approved the formation of the AWAS on 13 August 1941 with the objective of releasing more men into forward areas. Source: www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/awas

And work of high merit has been carried out by women members of AEME. Hundreds of AWAS are in the corps, and they are very proud of their AEME colour patch. Some are University graduates. The Army has to rely on many complicated optical instruments for sighting long range artillery, field artillery, anti-aircraft artillery, and coast artillery. These instruments range from ordinary binoculars to complex construction. In all-optical predictors of most work the AWAS has shown extraordinary skill. The girls have also been especially useful in instrument making, armature winding, and other work requiring delicacy of touch, quickness of movement, and perseverance. Source: The Arguse, 20 Jan 1945 trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1108145

The Australian Women's Army Service became operational in October 1941. Preference was given to women with signals and administrative skills. They were paid wages equal to two-thirds that of their male equivalent. awas01.jpg (17396 bytes) Melbourne, Australia. 1942-08. Driver Doreen Kirkpatrick, of the Australian Women's Army Service wearing her best uniform and smile. They were restricted to service within Australia. The AWAS had their own rank and administrative arrangements and they reported to the Chief of General Staff (CGS). The Commanding Officer or "Controller" of the AWAS was equivalent to a Lieutenant Colonel. Approximately 24,000 women enlisted in the AWAS during WW2. 3,618 of these served with the Royal Australian Artillery (RAA) and 3,600 with the Corps of Signals. By 1945 some women were allowed to serve at the advanced headquarters in Lae, while some other were sent to Hollandia. A 1941 report on AWAS It is expected that by the end of the year Australia will have 20,000 women in the uniform of the Australian women's army service. Already five thousand of these women are on the army strength and have been able to release an equivalent number of men for more active service in the field. Should the 20,000 objective be reached it will mean that an extra division of fighting troops will be available for service in the front line. So far the women's army has only been used for light duties on headquarter establishments where they have been able to take over the work of clerks, orderlies, cooks, waitresses and motor drivers. Recently, however, some have been taken into the signals section of the army and it is expected that others will eventually be trained in the use of anti-aircraft equipments. The rapid progress made in the organisation of the AWAS, and the success that has crowned their work, is an indication that the women of Australia are gallantly taking their part in what is gradually becoming an "all-in national war effort". The formation of the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps was to become a reality after World War II and The disbandment of the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS) in June 1947. Source: www.diggerhistory.info/pages-conflicts-periods/ww2/pages-...

The Rocklea Munitions Works was built in the early 1940s and, according to Brisbane City Council's heritage listing for the site, were some of the "most northerly munitions works constructed in Australia during the Second World War". It was one of the largest construction projects undertaken in Queensland during the war and became increasingly vital to the war effort as the fighting moved to Papua and New Guinea. Due to its importance to the war effort and risk of being targeted, the property had air raid shelters for factory workers, which remain on site. The machining shop in the factory produced cartridge cases for 25-pounder ammunition during the war. Source: www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-08/salisbury-rocklea-munition...