Australian Women's Army Service Association (NSW). (1948-)

Function
Ex-Armed services organisation
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-619877

Biographies

The Australian Women's Army Service Association (NSW) was established in Sydney, New South Wales, in 1948 for the purpose of organising an Australian Women's Army Service reunion. This became an annual event held at various venues and organised by a number of committees over the years.

The Association was born of an informal meeting held in 1948 for the purpose of organising an Australian Women's Army Service reunion. This became an annual event held at various venues and organised by a number of committees over the years.

In 1950 it was proposed that any profit accruing from the reunion should be used to establish a fund with a view to forming an AWAS Association. At the final meeting of the 1954 Reunion Committee, it was advised that the AWAS Association was now a registered charity organisation and in future would be known as AWAS Reunions (NSW). It would work on behalf of the Women's Wing of the War Veterans' Home.

By 1956, due to lack of interest, the Chief Secretary's Department was advised that it was impossible to convene an Annual General Meeting and suggested that the registration of the AWAS Reunions (NSW) should no longer be continued, as it was not possible to abide by the Constitution originally submitted.

Nonetheless, the annual reunions continued and were well attended. On 19 February 1960, a meeting was held and a draft of a proposed new Constitution was read. It was decided to circulate copies at the 1960 Reunion and, at a meeting held the following year, it was resolved that the Constitution or Rules of the Association, as circulated, would become effective as from 17 February 1961.

The reunions continued each year at the Anthony Horderns Gallery. 1962 was a special year, being the 21st Anniversary of the formation of the Service, and this engendered much interest amongst those who served in the AWAS. Over 200 ladies had to be turned away from the reunion due to lack of space. A new venue was needed.

Collections were always held at the reunion and over the years many needy causes benefited from the money given. As a special effort to mark the 21st Anniversary, a tree planting ceremony was arranged. An Australian Gum - Lemon Eucalyptus, was planted in Hyde Park on the western side of the War Memorial by Miss Joyce Whitworth (an AWAS Senior Officer), in the presence of Lt-General Sir John Northcott. A suitable plaque was placed beside the tree.

Former members of the AWAS had been marching since 1946 in the Anzac Day March, and activities on this day had been organised by Mrs Amy Taylor. Each year more joined the ranks and soon Anzac Day became the second big event on the ex-AWAS calendar.

In 1965 the format for the Annual Reunion was changed from a buffet meal to a sit-down dinner. This was a year of special interest to the AWAS Association, bringing as it did the announcement that Mr (later Sir) Roden Cutler had been appointed Governor of New South Wales. The AWAS were particularly pleased, as the Governor's wife - Lady Helen Cutler (née Miss Helen Morris), had been a member of their organisation. Congratulations and good wishes were sent, followed by a letter asking if Lady Cutler would accept Patronage of the Association and attend the Silver Anniversary Reunion on 28 October 1966. Both requests were accepted.

1967 saw the introduction of the AWAS Association badge. An amendment was passed this same year at the Annual General Meeting, altering the Constitution to include the words "(New South Wales)'' in the Association title.

In 1962 the word "Anniversary" was used for the first time because it was the 25th year since the formation of the Service. Each subsequent Reunion has been known as "… Anniversary Reunion", the 30th being held in 1971.

At the Annual General Meeting held on 23 March 1972, Miss Joyce Whitworth stood down as President after 13 years in the Chair and a new executive was elected with Mrs Amy Taylor as President. On 4 September 1972 the AWAS Association (NSW) was registered under the Charitable Collections Act and received a new Certificate of Registration under the title of AWAS Association (NSW). A Welfare Trust Fund was approved with administrators to be the President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Association, with any two of these as signatories on all Trust Fund cheques.

A new President, Miss Joan Lethbridge, was elected in 1974. Plans went ahead for a new Banner to be ready for the 1975 Anzac Day march. Miss Lethbridge remained President for four years. In 1978 Mrs Amy Taylor was again elected President and still holds this position.

The AWAS Association (NSW) has gone from strength to strength over the years. This is mainly due to the hard working ladies who have served on the Executives and Committees. With the membership over the 1000 mark, the Association is the largest ex-Servicewomen's organisation in NSW. The Association was a foundation member of the Council of Ex-Servicewomen's Assns (NSW) and supported this organisation with the Building of “Friendship Court”, 12 units within the complex of the War Veterans' Retirement Village at Narrabeen. The money that was raised came from all centres of the State.

The magazine Khaki, which is posted to all financial members, has become a very popular means of communication with members, particularly those in country areas. Khaki gives the members a chance to share in the activities of the Association.

Welfare is a very time consuming job and the Welfare Officer, with a good knowledge of the numerous and frequently changing pension systems, ably attends to those who seek help. As members grow older, the burden on the Welfare Department increases, but committee members assist with hospital visiting, while numerous fund raising efforts over the years and donations from members have ensured that any call for welfare could be met without financial worry. The Association was able to finance the publishing of Women in Khaki, a book written by a member of the AWAS about the Service.

Membership is growing as ex-Australian Women's Army Servicewomen seek the fellowship of their own kind: this spirit of friendship, born during the service days, has never died.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Related people and organisations

Australian Women's Register

Resources for Australian Women's Army Service Association (NSW).

Selected resources (4)

Australian Women's Register

  1. Khaki-clad and glad : 30 years after
    A.W.A.S. Association (N.S.W.)
    [[1971]]
    Published: A.W.A.S. Association (N.S.W.)
  2. Khaki / Australian Women's Army Service Association (NSW)
    [1977-]
    Published: The Association
  3. State Library of New South Wales: Copy photographic prints of the Australian Women's Army Service Association (New South Wales) activities during World War II (1941 - 1946)
    A contents list compiled by Mrs Thelma Long is kept at PXE 718 in the Mitchell Library Original Materials Reading Room 1-177. Copy photographic prints taken from originals owned by members of Australian Women's Army Service Association (New South Wales) of activities undertaken by Service members during World War II 178-189. 2nd Australian Ambulance Car Company (2AACC) N.S.W. 190. Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS) 191-198. Women's Australian National Services (WANS)
    PXE 718
  4. Private Hands (contact Australian Women's Archive Project): Australian Women's Army Service Association (NSW)

No Comments for this organisation

 

Add a comment



Possibly related

Digitised newspapers and more

Searching...

Minimise

Diaries, letters, archives

Searching...

Minimise

Archived websites (1996 – now)

Searching...

Minimise

Pictures, photos, objects

Searching...

Minimise

Books

Searching...

Minimise

Music, sound and video

Searching...

Minimise

People and organisations

Searching...

Minimise

Journals, articles and data sets

Searching...

Minimise

Maps

Searching...

Minimise

Lists

Searching...

Minimise
  1. Caring for the war wounded
    Created by PictureAustraliaAdmin, 34 items.

    'Caring for the war wounded' is an evocative collection of photographs and paintings that portray the exceptional care that was provided to soldiers who were injured in the First and Second World w...

  2. Australian Association of Hospital Almoners
    Created by LizzyBrew, 11 items.

  3. Commonwealth / Australian Association of Social Workers / rise of
    Created by LizzyBrew, 39 items.

  1. Australian Women's Army Service Association (NSW) (1948-)
    ... The Australian Women's Army Service Association (NSW) was established in Sydney, New South Wales ...
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.073)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.073)

  2. Country Women's Association of New South Wales
    ... The Country Women’s Association of New South Wales, the first such group in Australia, was founded ...
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.044)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.044)

  3. A.W.A.S. Association (N.S.W.)
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.039)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.039)

Pictures, photos, objects

No results

Minimise
  1. Women in khaki [Lorna Ollif]
    Ollif, Lorna
    [ Audio book, Book : 1981-1985 ]
    At 45 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.221)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.221)

  2. The other Anzacs : nurses at war, 1914-18 / Peter Rees
    Rees, Peter, 1948-
    [ Book : 2008-2009 ]
    At 122 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.218)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.218)

  3. Khaki-clad and glad : 30 years after / [by] the A.W.A.S. Association (N.S.W.)
    A.W.A.S. Association (N.S.W.)
    [ Book : 1971 ]
    At 5 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.214)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.214)

  4. Khaki-clad and glad, 30 years after : (the Australian Women's Army Service)
    A.W.A.S. Association (N.S.W.)
    [ Book : 1971 ]
    At 2 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.208)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.208)

  1. Kim / by Rudyard Kipling
    Kipling, Rudyard, 1865-1936
    [ Book, Audio book : 1897-2011 ]
    Languages: English, German, Italian, [10 others]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 124 libraries
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.004)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.004)

  1. Australian diary
    Australian National Film Board
    [ Video : 1947-1965 ]
    At 5 libraries
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.619)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.619)

  2. When the war came to Australia
    Australian Broadcasting Corporation
    [ Video : 1991-2006 ]
    At 70 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.301)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.301)

  3. Women in khaki [Lorna Ollif]
    Ollif, Lorna
    [ Audio book, Book : 1981-1985 ]
    At 45 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.221)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.221)

  4. Seven little Australians / by Ethel Turner
    Turner, Ethel, 1870-1958
    [ Book, Audio book : 1894-2010 ]
    Languages: English, Swedish, Spanish, [13 others]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 128 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.115)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.115)

  1. Pamphlets
    Grey, George Sir, 1812-1898
    [ Published : 1724-1902 ]
    At State Library of NSW
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.108)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.108)

  2. Records of the Australian Library and Information Association
    Australian Library and Information Association
    [ Unpublished : 1931-2007 ]
    At National Library
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.061)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.061)

  3. Papers of Guy and Phyllis Boyd
    Boyd, Guy, 1923-1988
    [ Unpublished : 1890-2001 ]
    At National Library
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.026)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.026)

  1. Khaki / Australian Women's Army Service Association (NSW)
    A.W.A.S. Association (N.S.W.)
    [ Periodical : 1977-2011 ]
    At 3 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.302)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.302)

  2. Pulse / Ex-A.A.M.W.S. Association - N.S.W
    Ex-Australian Army Medical Womens Service Association (N.S.W.)
    [ Periodical : 1900-2011 ]
    At 2 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.101)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.101)

  3. Government response to the report of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Procedure : e-motions : the electronic transaction of questions, answers and notices of motion and related matters
    Australia
    [ Book, Article : 1992-2005 ]
    At 6 libraries
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.184)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.184)

  4. Australian Peacekeeper & Peacemaker Veterans' Association "Looking after our own"
    Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans' Association
    [ Periodical, Archived website : 2009 ]
    View online
    At 3 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.124)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.124)

  1. QUEEN BESTOWS MANY HONORS Federal awards Victorian awards C.B. (COMPANION OF THE BATH)
    The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956) Thursday 1 January 1953 p 16 Article Illustrated
    ... Strathen Lawry, Australian Staff Corps, of Sydney. He has rendered devoted service to the Army ... Services in the Australian Military Forces since 1948. C.M.G. (COMPANION OF THE ORDER OF ST. MICHAEL AND ... Harlock, Australian Staff Corps, Australian Army re- presentative in the United Kingdom. Captain Royal ... 1852 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.022)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.022)

  2. 10 AUSTRALIAN KNIGHTS IN NEW YEAR LIST NEW KNIGHTS 11th AWARD IS POSTHUMOUS McBride, McLarty "Sirs"; two O'land OBEs, one MBE
    The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954) Thursday 1 January 1953 p 1 Article Illustrated
    ... and 1948-52, and in Australia. 1944-48. and Brisbane Women's Club past presi dent. She is now ... United Na tions Commission on the Status of Women in 1949. and at the Pan-Pacific women's conference in ... 10 AUSTRALIAN KNIGHTS IN NEW YEAR LIST NEW KNIGHTS J I L JM 11th AWARD IS POSTHUMOUS McBride, ... 1147 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.02)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.02)

  3. SHEPPARTON, BENDIGO HAVE NEW KNIGHTS
    The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956) Monday 1 January 1951 p 4 Article
    ... Olive Hicken, one of three I ' women responsible for forming the Country Women's Association ... Australian Aerial Medical Service. MEMBER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE (M.B.E.) Harold Bruce Bennett: ... Pratt: General secretary. Australian Journalists' Association, since 1919. Miss Alice Marion ... 1763 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.02)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.02)

  1. Website: Australian Women's Archives Project
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 189 matching archived pages
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.065)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.065)

  2. Website: Australian Women in War
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 152 matching archived pages
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.06)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.06)

  3. Website: Putting skirts on the sacred benches : women candidates for the New South Wales Parliament
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 59 matching archived pages
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.048)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.048)