Born at Wangaratta, Vic., Clare Stevenson was the second youngest of six children and moved with her family to Essendon when she was four years old. Her education commenced at Winstow Girls' Grammar School, Essendon and later Essendon High School. Passing her School Leaving Examination in February 1922, she was one of 116 young women out of a total of 501 who that year signed the matriculation roll at the University of Melbourne.

Clare Stevenson was admitted to the Faculty of Science and during her time at the university she was active in campus activities. A member of the Students' Representative Council and the Science Club, Clare Stevenson was a hockey blue and in 1925, president of the Committee of Melbourne University Women. During the final year of the degree she failed chemistry and enrolled for the Diploma of Education, which she obtained at the end of 1925. She commenced her working career with the Y.W.C.A. and in 1932 became a training and research officer at Berlei Ltd.

On 9 June 1941 Stevenson was selected as director of the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) a position she held until she retired on 18 March 1946. At the end of World War II she returned to her position at Berlei Ltd and remained with the company until her retirement in 1960.

In her retirement, Clare Stevenson continued her involvement with community associations. Affiliated with the Services Canteens Trust Fund for 40 years, she and a group of friends helped establish the Scholarship Trust Fund for Civilian Widows' Children. Clare Stevenson helped establish the Kings Cross Community Aid Centre as well as the Carer's Association of NSW. In 1960 she was awarded the MBE for her services to the community.

Clare Stevenson never married and died in Sydney on 22 October 1988.

Events

1926 - 1928

Organiser of night classes and clubs for day workers Y.W.C.A. (Sydney)

1929 - 1931

General Secretary of the Y.W.C.A, Rockhampton

1932

Joined Berlei Ltd to take charge of staff training

1935 - 1939

Senior Execuctive at Berlei Ltd, London

9 June 1941

Selected as Director of the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force with rank of Squadron-Officer

September 1941

Promoted to Wing-Officer

April 1942

Promoted to Group-Officer

1946 - 1960

Senior Executive at Berlei Ltd

18 March 1946

Retired from Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force

11 June 1960

Appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire

26 January 1988

Awarded Member of the Order of Australia (AM)

Sources used to compile this entry: Alexander, Joseph A (ed.), Who's who in Australia 1950, 14th edn, The Herald, Melbourne, 1950, 816 pp; Baldwin, Suzy (ed.), Unsung heroes & heroines of Australia /edited by Suzy Baldwin, Greenhouse, Elwood, Vic., 1988, 400 pp; Lake, Marilyn and Kelly, Farley (eds), Double Time: Women in Victoria - 150 Years, Penguin Books Australia Ltd, Ringwood (Vic.), 1985, 476 pp.