“While the focus on Anzac Day is usually Gallipoli, we must also remember – and honour – every other man and woman who has served in wars in which Australia has been involved, and those who are still serving today,” Coral Donnelly said as guest speaker at Tenterfield’s Anzac Day commemoration service.
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The former Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS) officer spoke of Australia’s history at war, mentioning Roderick Stanley Dallas who attended Bryan’s Gap school and went on to become a major in the Royal Air Force in WWI. There his flying ability was renown, having shot down 39 enemy aircraft and earning him many awards, before he was killed in action aged 26.
No women served in the Navy or Airforce during WWI, but the Army Nursing Service Reserve was officially proclaimed on July 1, 1902 following federation.
“All these ladies were volunteers, enlisting from civilian nursing,” Mrs Donnelly said.
Among them was Sister Minnie Rose Ferguson on Wallangarra.
“They were an integral part of the medical units in WWI. The life of a nurse was very demanding, often working in appalling conditions with inadequate medical supplies.
“One sister, May Tilton, based at a casualty clearing station in Ypres in 1917, wrote ‘We were horribly scared at times, but would sooner have died than admit it. If the men could stick, we could.’
“Many of these nurses lost loved ones and never recovered from the trauma. Many never married once back home on safe land in Australia.”
Mrs Donnelly said the loss of lives has been unimaginable, with a total of around 115,000 men and women killed during their service over the past 100 years.
“We mourn those killed, but shouldn’t we also remember the wounded who returned to Australia, with shattered bodies and minds?
“Many more have suffered from disabilities as a result of their service, and still do today. For many, they wished they had been killed, as for them death would have been preferable to a lifetime of suffering.
“As a consequence of their problems their loved ones – mothers, fathers and families – also bore the brunt of the suffering which in many cases made living normal lives impossible.”
Before retiring, Mrs Donnelly volunteered for 17 years helping veterans with their Department of Veterans Affairs claims. Now a Tenterfield resident, she was born in Melbourne in 1943 and worked in sales and secretarial work before a yen to see the big, wide world drew her to the Defence Forces. She opted for the WRANS because she preferred the uniform.
Her first assignment was learning to be a radio operator, but a bout of measles which landed her in hospital left her lagging in Morse Code. She switched to writing and coordinating instruction courses, until being seconded to the Navy Office in Canberra to become a personal assistant to the Director of the WRANS.
Further work in administration roles ended when she met her best mate Ken, and married women weren’t allowed to serve at that time. They had three children before Mrs Donnelly returned to work in public service.
“Life in the Navy these day is much more exiting for women as they do various interesting work,” RSL Sub-branch president David Stewart said in his introduction.
“Women today command ships, fly planes and helicopters, and become experts in electronics, aviation etc, defending and protecting Australia and performing in a variety of maritime duties.
“If the Navy would have Coral back, she would be there in an instant.”
Here is the full broadcast of the 2017 commemoration service.