Remembrance Day & Dedication Service

After WW1 she then completed her Midwifery Training at King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women in Subiaco, where she was invited to become a staff member. Sometime later she was invited to become the Matron of a home for delinquent boys. This being one of the disadvantages of war, children growing up without a male presence in there life. This position she held for some years. Her father Captain Tait retired and the family moved from Carmel to Kalamunda. Miss Tait lived in the family home caring for her mother, and answering many calls from local people for nursing help which came from many areas in the district. She became assistant to Dr. Barber at Kalamunda. Miss Tait died on the 19th July 1950 aged 90 years. Miss Tait always gave credit to the Military for her confidence in caring for civilian folk. She loved her time as a soldier, the hardships the nurses endured, the camaraderie they all enjoyed and the many years of friendships that followed. She was very reluctant to talk about her service and looked upon it as a job she was able to do, many say with great devotion. May she rest in peace.

Miss Edith Harler.

Miss Harler is seldom mentioned on occasion as this was a WW11 veteran. A courageous Military Nurse, who served in many areas, in particular New Guinea on The Ridge. Here she was pinned down with the men, when the Japanese Army was Advancing down the Kokoda Track. They were pinned down for many hours until Reinforcements could reach them from lower down the track. Here she served the wounded as best she could. Miss Harler went on to become the Matron of the Government School of Nursing W.A. In 1951 she was commissioned to the Rank of Lt. Col. Became Matron of 11 RAANC Karrakatta A CMF Unit. It is said that those who were fortunate enough to do their Nursing Training under her supervision, most certainly knew their subject well and were well fitted for any occasion likely to present themselves as a nurses carer.

Sister Jeannie O’Neil.

During the Occupation of Japan in 1946, Australia staffed a Combined Services Hospital in Kure. In 1951 Korea broke out and the Nurses in Japan were needed for the wounded in Korea. One of these Nurses was Jeannie O’Neil. Sister O’Neil worked long hard hours. Conditions in Korea were very difficult, with the summers being very hot and snow in the winter. The terrain was impossible to get Ambulances in close enough to evacuate the wounded. Many had to be brought down the hills on Flying Foxes rigged up or carried down on stretchers. Frost Bite was a huge problem . The men were made medically stable and then flown over to Japan for treatment and Hospitalization. Sister O’Neil remained in the RAANC, and was one of the first to be posted to Vietman during 1962/1972, to run the Australian Hospital at Nui Dat. Wounded were brought in by RAAF IROQUOIS 9 Sqn. Pilots who were their saviour of many wounded men who risked their own lives to get the wounded out. Sister O’Neil trained the SASR Medics for the task of caring for the wounded in the field. Many of her procedures are still carried out in current Peace Keeping Troop. Miss O’Neil passed away 4/5 years ago in Brisbane. She enjoyed her retirement breeding pigs.

Captain Carol Vaughan-Evans.

Medical Officer to SASR in 1995. Dr. Evans was deployed with a Peace Keeping force to Rwanda. Other personnel and infantry were present during a massacre at Kibeho. They risked their lives trying to help the wounded. They don’t talk about what they witnessed in the name of Peace.

Australia has women in Afghanistan at this time, doing many tasks that I don’t even understand. But I do know that female Nurses will always be a big part of any Military Action. They will always do what they can for the Civilian population when the shooting stops, and will always share their rations.