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125:. AWLA women were generally recruited from urban areas and were often unskilled in rural work. Members were given farming instruction and undertook work in primary industries, rather than any domestic duties at the hostels in which they were lodged in farming areas. The AWLA reached its peak enrolment in December 1943, with 2,382 permanent members and 1,039 auxiliary members. Women in the AWLA worked an average 48-hour week, with pay starting at the AWLA minimum wage of 30
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fundraising and patriotic groups. Women from the “Comfort Funds” knitted their way through the war, making socks, scarves and mittens, and gathering other items to package and send to the troops. Established service groups such as The Red Cross also enlisted women in new roles, including as part of the
Voluntary Aid Detachment where they worked as medical orderlies.
73:. Within three years, women would grow their skills to meet wartime demands and register themselves for enlistment into several more auxiliary service units and dozens of voluntary groups and legions. By 1942, women’s units had been formed across all arms of the defence forces: the Women’s Australian Auxiliary Air Force (WAAAF), the
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To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the formation, the
Australian Government agreed to a range of measures to recognise and thank the 'land army girls' for their commitment and efforts. A reception was held in Parliament House on Monday 20 August 2012 which acknowledged those surviving former AWLA
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a week. Permanent members were also entitled to sick pay. As was common at the time, women in the AWLA were paid much less than their male counterparts for the same work. For women more comfortable with “traditional” women’s roles, there were other opportunities to work in hospitality or with
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Peggy
Williams OAM, a former member of the AWLA led the campaign for proper recognition of all 'land army girls' efforts during the war years. This was acknowledged in a speech given by the Prime Minister of Australia at the Parliament House reception marking the 70th anniversary.
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to defend the country. To meet the shortfall in rural labour, state and private women’s land organisations began to form under the jurisdiction of the
Director General of Manpower. The AWLA disbanded on 31 December 1945. In 1997, many members became eligible for the
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Auxiliary members: These were available for periods of not less than four weeks at nominated times of the year; such members were to be used for seasonal rural operations, and to receive a badge, working clothes, and essential equipment on
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Full-time members: These enrolled for continuous service for 12 months (with the option of renewal); such members were to receive appropriate badges, distinctive dress uniform, working clothes, and equipment.
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members who were able to attend. Attendees were presented with a commemorative certificate, a commemorative brooch and a copy of a commemorative history publication of the AWLA.
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Members of the AWLA also covered a variety of agricultural labours, including vegetable and fruit growing, pig and poultry raising, and sheep and wool work.
85:(AAMWS). By the end of the war, 50,000 Australian women had served in these units, with women employed in over 70 different occupations in the WAAAF alone.
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The minimum age for recruits was 18 with a maximum of 50 years of age. Women had to be either of
British origin or immigrants from
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sector. The AWLA organised female workers to be employed by farmers to replace male workers who had joined the armed forces.
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cow, used for milking demonstrations, is being tied to the car by a Field
Officer in the Women's Land Army,
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When WWII began, the only women’s unit in the
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The AWLA was formed on 27 July 1942 and was modelled on the
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Australian Women at Work in WWII: Keep Cool and Carry On
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Australian Women at Work in WWII: Keep Cool and Carry On
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in 1941 male agricultural labour was recruited into the
266:(18 October 2022) by Elise Weightman published by the
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This
Knowledge (XXG) article incorporates text from
136:The AWLA was planned to function in two divisions:
382:Military history of Australia during World War II
362:Women of war recognised, Senator John Faulkner
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16:Wartime organisation of women in Australia
199:Australian home front during World War II
101:. It was overseen by Lieutenant General
62:to combat rising labour shortages in the
342:Australian Government: Women in Wartime
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83:Australian Army Medical Women’s Service
234:Women's Royal Australian Naval Service
229:Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force
75:Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service
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397:History of agriculture in Australia
319:Australian Dictionary of Biography
315:"Dorothy May Marshall (1902–1961)"
292:Australian Women's Archive Project
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288:"The Australian Women's Register"
54:) was an organisation created in
387:Australian women in World War II
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277:, accessed on 2 February 2023.
204:Australian Women's Army Service
79:Australian Women’s Army Service
71:Australian Army Nursing Service
214:Female roles in the World Wars
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224:Woman's Land Army of America
48:Australian Women's Land Army
347:Victoria: Women's Land Army
268:State Library of Queensland
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209:British Women's Land Army
105:. When Japan joined the
25:Smoko time with the AWLA
357:Australian War Memorial
116:Civilian Service Medal
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392:Women in agriculture
182:Dorothy May Marshall
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298:17 April
193:See also
275:licence
89:History
64:farming
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272:CC BY
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300:2015
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