As the Ode sounded, a silence fell over the Cabra-Vale Memorial Park as rain beaded off the brims of slouch hats.
On August 14, 79 years earlier, the Second World War was officially over.
Victory in the Pacific Day marks Japan’s unconditional surrender to the Allies after nearly four years of war.
It’s a time for reflection on the important role Australians played to end the war in the Pacific region.
This year at Cabra-Vale, reflecting on ‘Women in War’, Commander 2nd Health Brigade Brigadier Jocelyn King said she was humbled by the veteran and community efforts representing today’s diverse Australia.
Brigadier King said the history of ‘Women in War’ was inextricably linked to health care, stretching back to the nurses of the Boer War.
“At the commencement of the Second World War, the only women to serve outside Australia were nurses enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service,” Brigadier King said.
With growing demand for men to serve overseas, the three services raised multiple women’s units. More than 54,000 women joined signals, driving, catering and intelligence units, to name a few.
“The scale at which women served, the expansion of roles beyond nursing and the first offshore deployment beyond health care were all significant changes,” Brigadier King said.
“These changes had an enduring impact on how Australia accepted the contribution of women in war.”
