BATTLE OF BRITAIN ‘LACE’
The Air Force Association (South Australia) recently hosted the Hon Joe Szakacs, Minister for Veterans Affairs in South Australia, in Adelaide for the monthly Combined Ex-Services Mess in Veterans Lunch and to present two 60-year AFA Membership Certificates to 100-year-old South Australian World War 2 Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force Veterans.
Received by Dr Robert Black, AFA-SA State Councilor and Combined Ex-Services Mess Committee Member and GPCAPT Greg Weller, RAAF Edinburgh Officer and Vice-President AFA-SA, the Minister briefly discussed the role of and challenges involved in AFA-SA supporting Air Force veterans before meeting with various veterans attending the Combined Ex-Services Mess lunch.
It was wonderful to have the Minister present 60-year AFA Membership Certificates to 100-year-old World War 2 WAAAF veterans June Hunter and Rae Harris. Proud of their WAAAF Service and wanting to continue the camaraderie with fellow veterans, June and Rae joined the Air Force Association WAAAF Branch Adelaide in the 1960’s and regularly attending and enjoying AFA meetings, luncheons and friendships over the last sixty years.
Rae served in key leadership positions in the WAAAF Branch serving as the Secretary of the Branch from 2001 to 2006 and President of the Branch from 1999-2001.
It was wonderful to have two young serving female aviators from RAAF Base Edinburgh, ACW Molly Blanch and LACW Nicole Webb support the Minister in the presentations. While both serving members are contemporaries continuing in the footsteps of the original WAAAFs, LAWC Webb had a particular connection with June Hunter being a RAAF Motor Transport Driver – the same mustering as what June was employed in in World War 2.
In providing the main luncheon address, the Minister commended AFA-SA for its work and leadership in the veteran’s community and in supporting Air Force veterans particularly noting its success in commemorations, heritage and social media. More importantly, the Minister spoke about the incredible contributions of the WAAAFs in World War 2 and their enduring legacy for future generations. Around 27,000 WAAAFs served between 1941 and 1947 serving in over 70 musterings including traditional trades such as clerical, medical, catering, and supply to non-traditional trades such as mechanical, intelligence, meteorology, communications, and armaments.
The WAAAF was first and largest of the World War II Australian Women’s Services. The airwomen received about two-thirds of male RAAF members pay for equivalent service. However, their contribution was huge enabling thousands of men to deploy overseas on active service. The WAAAF members were, in effect, pioneers for women today and set the basis for female aviators here today and indeed generations of women employed in Australian society since. An aspect very much appreciated by the Minister in thanking Rae and June for their service as both WAAAFs and later as members of the AFA.
Images:
Main Image: Hon Joe Szakacs, Minister for Veterans Affairs in South Australia, speaks to veterans at the monthly Combined Ex-Services Mess Lunch hosted by AFA-SA.
Dr Robert Black (GPCAPT Retd), AFA-SA State Councillor and Committee member of the Combined Ex-services Mess and GPCAPT Greg Weller, RAAF Edinburgh based Officers and Vice-President AFA-SA, with Hon Joe Szakacs, Minister for Veterans Affairs in South Australia, at the entrance to the AFA-SA offices at the Torrens Parade Ground, Adelaide.
Hon Joe Szakacs presents WW2 WAAAF veterans June Hunter and Rae Harris with their 60 year AFA Membership Certificates with two contemporary female RAAF Edinburgh aviators, LACW Nicole Webb and ACW Molly Blanch.
