IRVING, SYBIL HOWY (1897-1973), founder and controller of the Australian Women's
Army Service, was born on 25 February 1897 at Victoria Barracks, Melbourne, eldest
of three children of Victorian-born parents Godfrey George Howy Irving, army
officer, and his wife Ada Minnie Margueritha, daughter of Frederick Thomas Derham.
As a result of her father's army postings, Sybil lived in every mainland State
during her girlhood. 'We got used to all the travelling after a while', she later
reflected. 'We had the most travelled canary I have ever known—and each trip we
lost another piece of the dinner set'. She was educated at various schools,
including Lauriston Girls' High School, Melbourne, which had been founded by her
aunts Margaret and Lillian Irving, and the Queen's School, Perth.
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Australian Dictionary of Biography Online
Sybil Irving was the founder and Controller of the Australian Women's Army Service. On 2 January 1939 she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for social welfare services in Victoria. Throughout her life Irving was a faithful member of the Church. Her Funeral Service on 30 March 1973, and a Memorial Service on 23 February 1975 were held in Christ Church, South Yarra, Victoria.
The eldest child of army officer Major General Godfrey George Howy and Ada Minni Margueritha (née Derham) Irving, Sybil Irving's education was conducted at the various postings her father obtained. This included attending Lauriston Girls' High School, which had been founded by her aunts Margaret and Lillian Irving.
During World War I Irving was a Voluntary Aid Detachment member with the the Australian Red Cross. From 1924 until 1940 she was secretary of the Girl Guides' Association, Victoria. In 1940 she was appointed assistant-secretary of the Australian Red Cross Victorian Division. Invited in 1941 to establish and head the Australian Women's Army Service, Sybil Irving held this position until 1946. She later became Honorary Colonel of the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps. After the war Sybil Irving became general secretary of the Victorian Division of the Red Cross. Upon her retirement in 1959 she was made an honorary life member of the society.
Sybil Irving died on 28 March 1973 and was buried at Fawkner cemetery with full military honours.
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1924 - 1940
Secretary of the Girl Guides' Association, Victoria. Tragic results of Poliomyolitis led Miss Irving to use her talent for needlework to teach the physically handicapped through the Girl Guide Extension Branch.
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1935 - 1973
Foundation member of the Victorian Society for Crippled Children (and Adults). Sybil Irving's was one of the two original signatures on the Articles of Association, and she continued to work for VSCCA all her life.
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2 January 1939
Appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
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1940 - 1941
Assistant Secretary of the Australian Red Cross, Victorian Division
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6 October 1941 - 31 December 1946
Controller of the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS). Appointed to establish and administer the Service which subsequently numbered 26,000.
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January 1942
Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel
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February 1943
Promoted to Colonel
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1947 - 1959
General Secretary of the Australian Red Cross, Victorian Division. Awarded Honorary Life Membership and the Medal for Meritorious Service.
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1951 - 1961
Honorary Colonel of the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC)
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1961 - 1971
Consultant to Elderly Citizens Clubs, with the Old Peoples Welfare Council, Victoria (later Victorian Council on the Ageing).
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Australian Women's Register