AWM137 2/2 - Historical information and general development of the RAAF Nursing Service - Letters and Histories for Press - Public Relations World War 2 - Part 1

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LETTERS AND HISTORIES FOR
PRESS - PuBLic RELATIONS
WORLD WAR 11 

HISTORICAL INFORMATION AND
GENERAL DEVELOPMENT of ThE

RAAF NURSING SERVICE.
The RAAF Nursing Service . . . A proud young Service 

Lady Muriel Nurses' Club
For Government House
By the courtesy of His Excellency the Governor (Sir Malcolm
Barclay-Harvey), and with the full support of the Premier (Mr.
Playford), a wing of Government House is to be converted into a
club for service nurses. It will be called the Lady Muriel Nurses
Club.
This club, which is for Army and

RAAF nurses, for AlF masseuses

and for full time VAD's, has been

organised through the enthusiasm

of Lady Muriel Barclay-Harvey,

who has always shown a very

active interest in service nurses'

welfare. All club members will

pay a small subscription, and they

will be able to entertain their men

friends in the club, which will

have a lounge, rest and writing

rooms, cloakrooms, parcel office,

kitchenette, provision for showers,

and a library, which will be in

charge of Mrs. J. R. Paget, the

wife of Wg. Comdr. Paget. Light

refreshments will be served by a
staff of voluntary helpers, and the
club will be open all day and until
late at night, so that nurses will
be catered for until the departure
 of their late trains.
"I feel it is absolutely necessary
that the service nurses should
have clubrooms of their own," said
Lady Muriel yesterday, "and as,
during the war, we are doing no
entertaining, we welcome them to
a wing of Government House.
Everyone has been most helpful 
regarding the establishment of the
club, and I should like to give
special mention to the Commercial
Travellers' Association, which has
welcomed this way of helping the
nurses in a most practical manner." 
Miss Mary Lisle Johnson is the
secretary of the new club, and the
CTA is treasurer. Those present
at a meeting held at Government
House yesterday to discuss plans
were Lady Muriel Barclay-Harvey
(in the chair), Mrs. T. Playford
(wife of the Premier), the Lady
Mayoress (Mrs. Hawker), Mesdames 
S. R. Symonds, J. R. Paget,
J. G. Kelly, J. A. Bonnin, F. W.
Arnold, Matrons Sexton and Daw
and Miss Gertrude Jude. 

[*Copy*]

1942

The Secretary.
Lady Muriel Nurses' Club

Service Nurses' Club.
Government House.

Adelaide.

Dear Miss Lisle Johnson,

Will you
please convey to Her Excellency

Lady Muriel Barclay-Harvey my

appreciation on behalf of the

R.A.A.F. Nurses for her generosity

in making a wing of Government

House available as a Club for

Service Nurses.

I feel sure that the Club

will be widely used, and that the

facilities provided will be enjoyed

and appreciated by all

Service Nurses.

With best wishes for the Success

and happiness of The Club.

Iam,

Yours Sincerely;

M. I Lang.

Matron in Chief

R.A.A.F. Nursing Service

2
ACTIVITIES OF THE R.A.A.F. NURSING SERVICE TO JUNE, 1942.
During the year ending June, 1942, there has been a marked increase
in the number of appointments to the Royal Australian Air Force Nursing
Service, which now totals 250.nurses. Of these, twelve were discharged on
grounds of marriage; one for other reasons; two were found to be
medically unfit for further service, and there was one death.
There has been no difficulty in the replacement of these nurses,
as we are continually receiving new applications from all States, and
the number on the waiting list greatly exceeds our requirements.
It has been difficult to keep a reserve of nurses ready to call up
at short notice, or to equip them before call up, owing to the high cost
of equipment. Air Member for Personnel has been very sympathetic about
our inadequate uniform allowance, and strongly recommended an increase
from £20 to £50. This matter has been under discussion for the past
fifteen months, and the first meeting to discuss the increase was
called by the Defence Co-ordination Committee in July, 1941. After
many discussions and altered decisions, it has been finally decided
to issue all articles of uniform to nurses as from 1/9/42. Badges
of rank or grade have been changed during the year from those worn
by the Princess Mary Royal Air Force Nursing Service to the R.A.A.F.
Officer's braid.
The 250 members have been posted to 53 different units,
including a number of units with an establishment of one Sister.
Twenty-two Sisters have seen service outside Australia on duty
escorting drafts to Canada, and they all consider this a great privilege.
With the growth of the Nursing Service ^and the wide distribution of its
members, administration has been increasingly difficult owing to the
delay in promulgation of the Regulations. Personal direction has to
be given in all matters concerning the Service. The appointment of
Miss M. K. Doherty as Pricnipal Matron, attached to No. 2 Training
Group, has helped the administration considerably. She attends to all
recruiting of applicants for the areas in New South Wales and Queensland
and to their examinations, recommendations for appointment and equipping.
She visits all Stations where Sisters are posted and recommends postings
in those areas. While the numbers do not warrant the appointment of a
Principal Matron in each area, it is necessary to have a senior and
responsible member to act for me, especially in advising the Principal
Medical Officers on matters concerning the Nursing Service, and this
has been arranged for in Western Area and South Australia.
Generally the work of the Nursing Staff has been highly
satisfactory. I find them all very keen, loyal and interested in the
Service, and anxious to maintain a high professional and moral standard.
All appreciate the good living conditions provided by the Service and
especially having their own separate messes The introduction of Sick
Quarters Attendants has been welcomed by the Sisters, and the reports
on their work and conduct have been very favourable.
Matrons and Sisters-in-Charge record in every monthly report
their appreciationnof the wonderful assistance of the Red Cross. They
cannot speak too highly of this work, also of the assistance of many
different women's organisations in mending hospital linen, supplying
flowers and other comforts, all cheering to the patients and helpful to
the Staff.
The publication of Regulations and Orders will help to establish
the identity of the R.A.A.F. Nursing Service. 

AUSTRALIAN AIR WAR EFFORT - August, 1944.
D.G.M.S.
In reply to mimite of the 15th instant received
from D/D.G.M.S., attached hereto please find article
covering the activities of the Royal Australian Air
Force Nursing Service, submitted in accordance with
request for inclusion in brochure entitled "Australian
Air War Effort".
M I Lang.
Matron-in-Chief,

R.A.A.F. Nursing Service.

19th August, 1944. 

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE NURSING SERVICE.
On 26th July, 1944, the R.A.A.F. Nursing Service
celebrated the Fourth Anniversary of the formation of the
Service.
Prior to July, 1940 the nursing was performed by
Medical orderlies under direction of the Medical Officer.
With the rapid growth of the R.A.A.F. it became necessary
to form a female Nursing Service on similar lines to the
Australian Army Nursing Service.
At first it was thought that approximately 120
trained nurses would be needed to provide the skilled nursing
for the whole of the R.A.A.F. Of this number some were to
be stationed at the Hospitals at Laverton, Richmond and
Ascot Vale.
So rapidly did the Service increase, especially after
the formation of the W.A.A.A.F., that by the end of 1941
Nurses were established in Hospitals and Sick Quarters in
every State of the Commonwealth, and our strength has now
increased by four times the original estimate.
The Nursing Service is controlled by the Director
General of Medical Services, with Matron-in-Chief as
chief administrator, and assisted by a Principal Matron, and
Matrons at Area and Group Headquarters, Matrons in charge
of Hospitals and Senior Sisters in charge of Station Sick
Quarters, each with a staff of trained and experienced Nurses -
or Sisters as they are now called. 

Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service:   -2
There is at least one Nursing Sister in the
Medical Section of every Station where any sick R.A.A.F.
or W.A.A.A.F. are detained, as well as providing nursing
in Hospitals, Station Sick Quarters and R.A.A.F. Medical
Receiving Stations.
Nurses are recruited from all States in the
Commonwealth and are given a month's course on Service
procedure before being posted for duty.
A new unit of fifteen trained Nurses and fifteen male
Medical orderlies was formed this year for air evacuation
of sick and wounded. They will be working as near to the
front line as is necessary for the quick evacuation of the
wounded. Each transport plane will carry one Sister and
one male orderly.
During the years 1940 to 1942 one Sister was
included in each Escort party provided for draughts of
R.A.A.F. sent to Canada and the United Kingdom under the
Empire Air Training Scheme.
Since 1942 Sisters have been serving in Medical
Receiving Stations in New Guinea.
For outstanding service in Darwin during 1942
Matron Dutton was mentioned in despatches, and for valuable
service rendered in New Guinea Senior Sister Wheatley received
the A.R.R.C.
In addition to providing skilled nursing the Sisters
are engaged in a systematic and comprehensive course of 

Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service:   -3
training for the female nursing assistants - W.A.A.A.F.
Sick Quarter Attendants and Nursing Orderlies, as well
as assisting in the training of male Medical orderlies.
During the past four years
one member of the R.A.A.F. Nursing Service has
died on service
four have been discharged on medical grounds, and
73 members have married and been discharged from
the Service.
Careful preparation is now being made for the post-war
rehabilitation of all members.