President of the Women's Services Sub-Branch of the RSL, Alice Penman served with the Australian Army during World War II. She served in the Middle East as a Voluntary Aid Detachment member and then in Far North Queensland. Penman later served with the Australian Army Medical Women's Service (AAMWS) after the Government of the time decided to distinguish between military and non-military Voluntary Aids.
During the 'Australia Remembers, 1945-1995' celebrations Penman participated in a number of functions emphasizing the work carried out by the Voluntary Aid Detachment Red Cross members.
On 13 June 1993 she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to veterans particularly through the Returned & Services League New South Wales and to the Friends of the Northcott Neurological Centre.
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1937
Foundation member of the Bathurst Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD)
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1939
An Army Camp established at Bathurst and VADs worked in canteens, sewed a garment a week for the Red Cross, sold buttons and worked in local and camp hospitals
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1941
Selected to join the Australian Infantry Force (AIF) for service overseas
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1941 - 1943
Served with the 2/6 Australian General Hospital at Gaza, Palestine
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1943 - 1945
Served in Atherton, North Queensland
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1945
War ended
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1946
Joined Women's Services Sub-Branch RSL, and has served in a number of offices including being Women's State Councillor on State Council for 2 years
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1947
Assistant Commandant at Haberfield VAD
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1952
Brown Owl of the 2nd Beecroft Brownies
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1962
Family moved to Gilgandra, NSW. Joined the Red Cross and Country Women's Association
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1987
Volunteer at the National Artillery Museum at North Fort. Has dressed two static models, one representing the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS), whose members served at the Fort during World War II and the other wearing a VAD uniform
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13 June 1993
Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia
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1995
Organised, with the help of Girl Guides, a memorabilia display at St Ives Shopping Centre as part of the 'Australia Remembers, 1945-1995' celebrations
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1995
President of the Women's Services Sub-Branch RSL
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November 1995
Along with a number of other Voluntary Aids from World War II, Alice Penman spoke about her wartime experiences at a commemorative luncheon as part of the 'Australia Remembers, 1945-1995' celebrations
View the full record at
Australian Women's Register