The war on fashion

As Australian's commemorate there diggers today on ANZAC day I felt it only right to dedicate this one to the women of the war. As a previous member of the Australian Army & the wife of a Soldier I am far too familiar with the uniform. Now less femine that there vintage counter parts. As it once was described to me as a "ladies Army", Women wore, skirts, stockings, heels, white gloves and lipsticks. This was even as late as the 80's. However the styles for women in todays army have been lost to the unisex parade dress, DCPU cams, and the only thing different to the mess dress is women wear a skirt rather than tailored trousers.

A little history:

A.N.A.S:  (Australian Womens Army Service) performed such tasks as clerks, signallers, drivers, cooks, orderlies, typists, telephonists, mechanics and A.A. crews, these women released soldiers for active service. The A.W.A.S. was disbanded in 1946, the newly formed Women's Royal Australian Army Corps, or W.R.A.A.C., carrying on its splendid tradition.

The Women's Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC) was established in April 1951 to help overcome a manpower shortage. During the late 1970s female soldiers began to be integrated into the Army at large and in early 1985, the WRAAC was disbanded. The last Officers' Cadet School parade (6 December 1984) on the WRAAC School parade ground saw the Officer Cadets and the WRAAC Contingent marching to the strains of "Soldiers of the Queen". Prior to the formal closing of the gates the WRAAC School flag was ceremoniously lowered and slow marched "off", to be folded and handed over to the Chief Instructor of the WRAAC School for safe keeping. The gates, which had been repainted for the occasion, were then closed by Major Diane McVicker of the WRAAC School and Mrs Gwen Ellis - sister of Colonel Best.

Country Womens Association

First formed in 1922 the country women’s association was formed in Queensland and New South Wales. In 14 years following each state would follow suit. Although there was a group in each state it wasn’t merged as an Australian organisation until 1945 by Mrs Marfell the CWA’s first president. . The first committee considered various aspects of the national bill and its anomalies regarding the issue of women marrying foreigners.

In Adelaide 1946 the first annual conference of the CWA of Australia was held, the next being in Sydney were delegates where appointed to go to the associated country women’s of the world conference in Amsterdam.

By 1985 NSW saw is first member elected to the national office as president, Mrs Dorothy Ross, until then the states took turns in hosting a president. Presidents now are elected for a 3 year term.

Now the CWA is the largest women’s organisation in Australia with approximately 25,500 members across 1500 branches.

They are a self funded organisation, non party political and non sectarian organisation.

When they aren’t submitting legislative changes to government they are partaking in crafts, public speaking, floral arts, and music, computing and of course cooking. They help out victims of natural disasters, war and famine through a range of fund raising. On a small scale they make knitted toys which are presented to the ambulances to hand out to seriously ill children during emergency transports to hospitals. Booties and knitted clothing are given to premmie babies and much more. The CWA have an extensive cookbook collection and now they have there very own scone mix in supermarkets (keep you eye out next time your in the cooking isle) and let’s face it, who doesn’t love a CWA scone!

If you would like to find out more about the CWA or join contact them on:

Website: www.cwaa.org.au

Email: cwaa-nat-pres@bigpond.com