General News
31 August, 2024
Women of the Australian Red Cross - Joyce White BEM
Joyce Wise, while still Miss Cleaver, was among the first 100 Voluntary Aides to be attached to the 113th Australian General Hospital.
Voluntary Aid Detachments were organised at the onset of World War I, by members of the the Australian Red Cross and the Order of St John, as part of Lady Helen Munro Ferguson’s appeal ‘to the women of Australia.’
Their primary role was that of nursing orderly.
They were not employed in military hospitals, except as ward and pantry maids; rather they worked in Red Cross convalescent and rest homes, canteens and on troop trains.
In the Second World War, VADs were given more medical training, but were not fully qualified nurses.
They worked in convalescent hospitals, on hospital ships and the blood bank as well as on the home front.
In 1943 the government created the Australian Women’s Auxiliary Service to manage the large number of VADs employed by the military
Past Patron and Member of Gilgandra Branch of Red Cross, the Late Mrs Joyce Wise, BEM, told of her involvement in this organisation.
"In 1939 I became a member of a Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachment where I worked in hospitals at the Sydney Showground when pavilions were turned into emergency hospitals for an epidemic of influenza and measles which broke out among our troops."
Joyce, while still Miss Cleaver, was among the first 100 Voluntary Aides to be attached to the 113th Australian General Hospital.
Later they were formed into the Australian Army Medical Women’s Service and known as A.A.M.W.S.
Joyce was selected in a contingent of V.A.’s to go overseas in 1942, but when on final leave, Japan entered the war and the girls were returned to the 113th A.G.H.
Joyce was later attached to 2/11th A.G.H. which had returned from Egypt and then to 2/4th A.G.H. which had returned from Tobruk.
Joyce’s uniform, bearing the colour patch of 2/4th A.G.H., is now displayed in the Allan Wise Gallery at the Coo-ee Heritage Centre, Gilgandra along with her black suitcase.
This suitcase was the only article allowed to be carried when in uniform together with the small clutch purse.
This uniform has featured in a number of parades of wedding attire, as it was worn by Joyce when she married Bombardier Allan Wise in September 1942 at St Stephen’s Church, Macquarie Street, Sydney.
It has also been displayed at Red Cross Zone Conferences held in Gilgandra and on numerous other occasions.
In May 1975 for her outstanding service to Red Cross, Joyce was awarded the Australian Red Cross Medal for distinguished service.
Joyce was always very modest regarding her achievements, however she contributed a few words regarding her time with Red Cross at Gilgandra’s ARC Centenary celebration in 2014.
"When a member of Gilgandra Red Cross, I was made a Representative for Zone 16 which took in the branches of Ballimore, Wongarbon, Dubbo, Eumungerie, Curban, Gilgandra, Gulargambone, Coonamble, Walgett, Cryon and Goodooga.
"I tried to visit each branch once a year, plus four Red Cross meetings per year in Sydney.
"It was a very busy nine years in my life (1967-1976).
"Red Cross country branches provide a large part of income to Headquarters and part of a Representative’s job is to encourage membership and assist Branches to hold various functions.
"I attended many luncheons, garden parties and dances, even a goat race at a Western Branch."
I assisted at the Coonamble Showground when 100 people were evacuated after a flood in Collarenebri.
"After Cyclone Tracey in Darwin three families were relocated to Gilgandra and I helped to find accommodation and assisted in getting them settled into the district."
In 1981 Joyce and her late husband Allan, were both awarded the British Empire Medal, for their services to the Gilgandra community.
