Helping Out
The involvement of Australian women in each war is closely connected to their role in society at different times, and the nature of each war. On the home front, women dealt with the consequences of war - managing children and family responsibilities alone, shortages of resources, as well as their fears for the future, and the grief and trauma of losing loved ones. Many women were also actively involved as nurses and in other active service duties, and contributed more actively to war efforts through military service.
Source: Australia.gov.au, 2014
Australian Nurse in War
More than 3,000 Australian civilian nurses volunteered for active service during the First World War. While enabling direct participation in the war effort, nursing also provided opportunities for independence and travel, sometimes with the hope of being closer to loved ones serving overseas.
Source: Austraian War Memorial, 2014
Women in War
The wars in which Australia has been involved have had profound effects on the lives of women. In earlier conflicts women supported the men who went away to fight through fundraisers and providing comfort packages. The Australian Army Nursing Service Reserve was formed in 1902 and women served at home and overseas with this service.
During World War Two some joined the officially organised women's services. Others entered the workforce, to replace men recruited into the armed forces, often doing jobs traditionally viewed as 'men's' work. On the homefront there were many disturbances to everyday life. Families were disrupted as men went away to war and communications were limited by transport problems and restrictions imposed by censorship. Clothes and food rationing were also introduced.
Source: Australian War Memorial, 2014
Biographies of Women involved in wartime
What did the war do for women?
eBooks [Read online]
Select this button, look for it on the Library website, then search for the eBooks shown below:
Women in World War I by ISBN: 9781432980849Publication Date: 2013-07-01World War I brought many changes for women. Some stepped into roles left vacant by men now serving overseas, while others helped the war effort as nurses, telephone operators, and more. This book explores the wartime roles of women around the world.
Women Heroes of World War II by ISBN: 9781613731680Publication Date: 2016-10-01Australian Army nurse Vivian Bullwinkel, stationed in Singapore, then shipwrecked in the Dutch East Indies, became the sole survivor of a horrible massacre by Japanese soldiers.
Fifteen suspense-filled stories unfold across China, Japan, Malaya, Singapore, the Dutch East Indies, and the Philippines, providing an inspiring reminder of womens' and girls' refusal to sit on the side-lines around the world and throughout history.
Women Heroes of World War I by ISBN: 9781613746868Publication Date: 2014-06-01A commemoration of brave yet largely forgotten women who served in the First World War In time for the 2014 centennial of the start of the Great War, this book brings to life the brave and often surprising exploits of 16 fascinating women from around the world who served their countries at a time when most of them didn't even have the right to vote.
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ANZAC Biscuits by Call Number: PF CUMRachel is in the kitchen, warm and safe. Her father is in the trenches, cold and afraid. When Rachel makes biscuits for her father, she adds the love, warmth and hope that he needs. This is a touching story of a family torn apart by war butbrought together through the powerful simplicity of Anzac Biscuits.
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