VOLUNTARY AID WORK IN AUSTRALIA

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23315, 26 September 1945, Page 3

VOLUNTARY AID WORK IN AUSTRALIA

New Zealand Girl’s Experience Out of a staff of 200 Voluntary aids at the 114th Australian General" Hospital. Goulburn, New South Wales, New Zealand had two representatives, Sergeant Margaret Bowen (Timaru) who was engaged in occupational therapy, and Corporal Stella McLean, a former Orepuki girl, who has lived in Australia for the last nine years. In an interview at Invercargill. Corporal McLean stated that she volunteered for service in the Australian Army Medical Women’s Service in April 1943, and served as a V.A. until July last in the A.G.H at Goulburn and the 113th Concord Military Hospital in Sydney. “I found the work of a V.A in Australia full of interest, and we were very well looked after,” remarked Corporal McLean. “Tire food was excellent and the entire cooking arrangements were efficiently carried out by girls—l still remember the delicious pineapple tarts that w’ere sometimes served as a specialty. I thought the Australian V.A’s too. looked extremely smart in their uniforms, and beauty aids were part and parcel of their outfit. The use of cosmetics was not discouraged, and as most of the girls were inclined to have pale skins, the discreet use of Unstick, rouge and powder certainly added to their attractive appearance. Every facility and encouragement was given to girls to interest themselves in the work of the service, and I attended a clerical administration instructors' school in Victoria, the n.c.o. school at Killara, Sydney, and the Army Education school. Melbourne.” There were 1200 beds at the Goulburn hospital, where the greater part of Corporal McLean’s time was spent, and she remarked that the dry and invigorating climate worked —onders in the many patients received from New Guinea and adjacent islands, most of whom were suffering from tropical diseases or nerve and skin troubles. Major operational cases were attended to in Sydney. In Melbourne and Sydney excellent service clubs catered for women and were a great boon. Two and sixpence was charged for a bed a night. 1 '6 for breakfast and lunch and 19 for dinner. Male personnel, if accompanied by a servicewoman, were allowed for meals. At Goulburn there was also a splendid club for servicewomen organised bv the countrywomen, which, al-_ though not residential, proved very valuable to girls on short leave. “Tn spite of quite severe rationing. Australian women manage to look extremely smart, and as Goulburn is only 150 miles from Sydney, and shopping- did not present quite the same difficulties as in the city, there was a constant, stream of visitors from Sydney, and many a girl purchased her trousseau in Goulburn.” she commented.