Dynon, Moira Lenore (1920-1976)

Field of activity
Scientist, Servicewoman and Welfare worker; air force officer; chemist; community worker
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-743090

Biographies

DYNON, MOIRA LENORE (1920-1976), welfare worker and scientist, was born on 4 September 1920 at Elsternwick, Melbourne, eldest of five children of Percy Gerald Shelton, medical practitioner, and his wife Lily Eliza, née Johnston, both Victorian born. Educated at O'Neill College, Elsternwick, and Loreto Convent, Toorak, Moira studied science at the University of Melbourne (B.Sc., 1941). On 10 October 1942 she was commissioned in the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force and was posted to the Directorate of Armament on 29 March 1943. She was responsible for 'inspection of R.A.A.F. offensive and defensive chemical warfare munitions and Storage Depots throughout Australia, the disposal of leaking bombs, the unloading of cargoes of chemical warfare stores from ships, the chemical analysis of different charges and the training of persons in both offensive and defensive chemical warfare measures'. Usually the only female officer training or inspecting all-male units, she was the sole female participant in trials. She was burnt several times on the skin, eyes, throat and lungs. On 10 April 1943 she was promoted section officer and on 1 July 1944 flight officer.

View the full record at Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

The eldest daughter of medical practitioner, Percy and Lily (née Johnston) Shelton, Moira Dynon was educated at Presentation Convent, Elsternwick, Loreto Convent, Toorak and the University of Melbourne. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 1941, Dynon was commissioned in the Women's Australian Auxiliary Air Force and assisted Wing Commander R J W Le Fevre with chemical warfare munitions. Following her discharge she became a research officer with the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories and later with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. On 2 December 1950 she married John Dynon and they had five children. At this stage Dynon became involved with community organisations. These included the Catholic Mothers' Club Federation, the Catholic Women's Social Guild and the Australian Council of Catholic Women. In 1952 the Dynons established the Malvern branch of the United Nations Australia Association, Victorian division. In 1960 she initiated and ran an appeal to provide secondary education for Japanese children of returned Australian servicemen. Moira Dynon became chairman of the Aid for India and president of its successor Aid India. She also helped with famine-relief campaigns in Bengal, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

  • 1942 Graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Science
  • 10 October 1942 Commissioned in the Women's Royal Australian Air Force
  • 29 March 1943 Posted to the Directorate of Armament
  • 10 April 1943 Promoted to section officer
  • 1 July 1944 Promoted to flight officer
  • 1946 - 1947 Research officer (Antibiotics) with the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, Victoria
  • 8 February 1946 Discharged from Royal Australian Air Force
  • 1947 - 1950 Worked with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
  • 1948 Appointed female officer on the staff council at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
  • 2 December 1950 Married barrister and solicitor John Francis Dynon at Xavier College, Kew
  • 1954 - 1955 Established and foundation president of the Federation of Loreto Old Girls' Associations
  • 1958 - 1959 Vice-president of the Catholic Mothers' Clubs' Federation
  • 1961 - 1967 President of the Italo-Australian Welfare Association Women's Division
  • 1962 - 1968 Member of the executive committee for the Catholic Women's Social Guild
  • 1963 - 1965 Member of the National executive committee of the A J Ferguson Memorial Appeal for Care of Australian-Japanese Children in Japan
  • 1964 Chairman of the Aid India Campaign
  • 1965 Trustee of the National Fund of the A J Ferguson Memorial Appeal for Care of Australian-Japanese Children in Japan
  • 1966 - 1968 Vice-president of the Catholic Women's Social Guild
  • 1967 Received the Knight Order of Star of Italian Solidarity
  • 1967 National President of the Aid India Campaign
  • 1968 Vice-president of the Australian Council of Catholic Women
  • 1969 Section chairman of the UNESCO Seminar "Human Rights" at Madras

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Related people and organisations

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Australian Women's Register

Resources for Moira Lenore Dynon

Selected resources (6)

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Australian Women's Register

  1. The WAAAF in Wartime Australia
    Thomson, Joyce A
    [1992]
    Published: Melbourne University Press
  2. Dynon, Moira Lenore (1920-1976)Australian Dictionary of Biography Online 14 : Dynon, Moira Lenore (1920-1976)
    Humphris, M R
    [2006]
    Published: Australian National University
    Series: http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A140075b.htm
  3. SHELTON, MOIRA LENOREWorld War 2 Nominal Roll Department of Veterans' Affairs : SHELTON, MOIRA LENORE
    Department of Veterans' Affairs
    [2002]
    Series: http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/script/veteran.asp?ServiceID=R&VeteranID=1070220
  4. Who's who in Australia, 1971
    Legge, J S
    [1971]
    Published: The Herald and Weekly Times
  5. National Archives of Australia, National Office: SHELTON MOIRA LENORE (1939 - 1948)
    SHELTON MOIRA LENORE : Service Number - 104057 : Date of birth - 04 Sep 1920 : Place of birth - Unknown : Place of enlistment - Unknown : Next of Kin - SHELTON PERCY
    2002/05090863

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  1. Dynon, Moira Lenore (1920-1976)
    ... DYNON, MOIRA LENORE (1920-1976), welfare worker and scientist, was born on 4 ...
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  1. Website: Australian Women in War
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  2. Website: Australian Women's Archives Project
    www.womenaustralia.info
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    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.074)

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  1. Letter
    Allen, J. L
    [ Unpublished : 1972 ]
    At National Library
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.137)

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  1. Australian-Japanese children in Japan / address by Mrs. J. F. Dynon
    Dynon, Moira Lenore
    [ Book : 1964 ]
    At National Library
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.266)

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  2. Special report on Australian-Japanese children in Japan / prepared by Mrs. John F. Dynon on behalf of the Australian-Asian Association of Victoria
    Dynon, Moira Lenore
    [ Book : 1960 ]
    At State Library of VIC
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.158)

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  1. Family Notices
    The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956) Tuesday 22 August 1950 p 9 Family Notices
    ...; Kingsley Spencer, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. Clive Rowan, Kalimna, Mer rick. SHELTON -DYNON. - Moira Lenore, eldest daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Percy Shelton of Illawarra, Glenhuntly road, Elsternwick, to John Francis, younger son of Mrs. James Dynon, 7 ... 191 words
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  2. Family Notices
    The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956) Thursday 27 December 1945 p 2 Family Notices
    ... - DYNON.-On December 25, at his home. Moira. 100 Roslyn st.. Middle Brighton, Maurice, the beloved husband of the late Mary Dynon, loving father of Maurice, Olive (Mrs. L. Wood), and Leo (deceased), loved pa of Moya and John (late of John Dynon & Sons). -Requiescat in '-pace. GALE.-On December 25, Howell ... 3488 words
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  3. Family Notices
    The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956) Monday 19 April 1948 p 2 Family Notices
    ... Beverley and Martin. COCK.-On April 17. at her residence. S Dean -avenue. Hawthorn. Mabel Lenore, darling ... Lenore, loved mother of Nola (Mrs. Johnson), mother-in-law of John, and gloved nan of Pam. COCK.'-Cm April 17 (suddenly), at her residence. 8 Dean avenue, Hawthorn. Mabel Lenore, dearlv beloved Bister of ... 6375 words
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