Aboriginal Australian Women in World War 2
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have also made a significant contribution to the defence of the nation through their service with the armed forces, civilian organisations such as the Women’s’ Land Army or worked in war time industries.
Indigenous women served as nurses or in support roles in Australian-based outposts in World War 2, and this is Indigenous women first served in Australia armed forces.
Oodgeroo Noonuccal
known as Kathleen Walker
In the 1930s and 1940s, there were few opportunities for Indigenous women to keep Walker in civilian life. She left Dunwich State School at the age of 13 and worked in poorly paid positions as a household servant. When she was 16, Walker was denied the chance to train as a nurse on the basis of her Aboriginality.
Walker enlisted on 5 December 1942, prompted by the capture of her brothers, Edward and Eric, by Japanese forces in Singapore. In the AWAS, Walker learned new skills and may have been treated with greater equality than she had experienced as a civilian.
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Walker was stationed at army headquarters in Brisbane. She first trained as a switchboard operator then later as a wireless operator. Walker was promoted to lance corporal in April 1943. She remained in the AWAS until discharged on 19 Jan 1944, suffering chronic ear infections which led to partial deafness.
Following her discharge from the army, Walker joined the Communist Party of Australia (CPA). It was the only Australian political party that did not have a White Australia policy. Walker developed her skills in public speaking and political strategy, which she would continue to use in the coming decades.
Faith Banlder
As children, Faith and her siblings were avid followers of American civil rights. They listened to Paul Robeson and found inspiration in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), influences which would define the trajectory of Faith’s life and political career. The Second World War sprung Faith into action. She enlisted in the Women’s Land Army. As a member of that organization, she worked on farms while male workers were fighting in the war.
Bandler had previously been influenced by Australian human rights activist Jessie Street and Aboriginal civil rights activist Pearl Gibbs. In 1956 Bandler helped found the Aboriginal-Australian Fellowship to advance Aboriginal rights. The next year Bandler began a campaign to urge the federal government to offer a referendum that would address aspects of the constitution that were detrimental to Indigenous communities. She gave speeches and tried to impart the importance of the referendum.
Bandler had become involved with the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. She served as the organization’s secretary in the early 1970s, but she left after tensions arose over her rightful place in the organization since she was not an Aboriginal person nor a Torres Strait Islander person. She thereafter continued to fight for the rights of South Sea Islander people and women.
Before WWII, Australian women were generally restricted to nursing roles in the services, but Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women were not even permitted to enlist. This changed in WWII, when at least nine known Indigenous women served in the Australian army, air force and navy.
Aboriginal women filled a variety of roles in the auxiliary force：
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clerical
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communications
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cooks
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cleaners and kitchen staff
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drivers
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health care
Some joined the services and learned valuable new skills with the auxiliary branches of the Navy, Army and Air Force:
The full extent of the successes and experiences of Indigenous women who have served in the Australian armed services is still emerging. However, these women are no longer invisible and their contributions are finally being honoured.
