Mrs Adam-Smith became a Voluntary Aide working in hospitals in North Queensland for three years. The nursing consisted mostly of innoculations, malaria and worms were rife. Casualities were from New Guinea. Mrs Adam-Smith discusses contraceptives and their availability. Clare Stephenson is mentioned- she founded the Women's Australian Airforce Corp. She discusses the problems encountered by girls who became pregnant. VD clinic lectures are mentioned as a total waste of time-incomprehensible in their presentation. Relations with the American servicemen are mentioned. Attitudes to women in the war- both civilian and servicewomen are discussed- servicewomen were well thought of. Mrs Adam- Smith comments on women having to give up work at the end of the war. There was no organisation for civilian women, like the ex-service women for after the war. Women's war effort hasn't been recognised. Identity cards for movement and rations are mentioned. She remarks that since General Macarthur was running the war here, this put Prime Minister John Curtin and General Blamey into difficult positions. Mrs Adam-Smith lists prominent women in the services- Clare Stephenson in the RAAF, Sybil Irving in the Army.

BECKETT, Patricia Jean [nee Smith] VFX124737

Interview with Hazel de Berg on 11 Oct. 1971 in which Adam-Smith speaks about her childhood in a fettler's camp; her schooling in very small classes; leaving her home; writing in her teens; writing children's serials for the ABC; writing for the magazine "A.M"; she speaks of her sea-going life; the various books she wrote; readjusting to life on shore; realising her responsibilities towards her children; working as a manuscript field officer; her method of work when writing.

1 cassette (ca. 60 min.) : 1 7/8 ips.

Transcript available (22 p.)