Stevenson, Clare Grant (1903 - 1988)

Clare Stevenson was appointed Director of the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force on 9 June 1941. Thus she became head of the first Women's Service formed in Australia for ground-staff duties with an armed force. After the war Stevenson returned to her executive position with Berlei Ltd. Also she became involved with community work. For forty years she was affiliated with the Services Canteens Trust Fund. Clare Stevenson, with a group of friends, helped initiate the Scholarship Trust Fund for Civilian Widows' Children. She also helped establish the Kings Cross Community Aid Centre as well as the Carer's Association of NSW. On 11 June 1960 Clare Stevenson was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for social welfare services on behalf of ex-servicewomen. On Australia Day 1988 she received the Member of the Order of Australia award for service to the community and to the welfare of veterans.

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)

Director

• Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) (1941 - 1947)

  [1941 - 1946]

Presided

• Committee of University Women (1925 - )

  [1925 - ]

Related Corporate Bodies

• Council of Ex-Servicewomen's Associations (NSW) (1975 - )

  Foundation Patron

  [1975 - 1988]

• RAAF Association (NSW Division) - WAAAF Branch (1946 - )

  helped the Branch in its early stages

Online Resources

• Department of Veterans' Affairs, 'STEVENSON, CLARE GRANT', in World War 2 Nominal Roll, http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/script/veteran.asp?ServiceID=R&VeteranID=1070264. [ Details... ]

See also

• Alexander, Joseph A (ed.), Who's who in Australia 1950, 14th edn, The Herald, Melbourne, 1950, 816 pp. [ Details... ]
• Baldwin, Suzy (ed.), Unsung heroes & heroines of Australia /edited by Suzy Baldwin, Greenhouse, Elwood, Vic., 1988, 400 pp. [ Details... ]
• Lake, Marilyn and Kelly, Farley (eds), Double Time: Women in Victoria - 150 Years, Penguin Books Australia Ltd, Ringwood (Vic.), 1985, 476 pp. [ Details... ]
• Stevenson, Clare and Darling, Honor (eds), The W.A.A.A.F. book, Hale & Iremonger, Sydney, c1984, 288 pp. [ Details... ]
• Thomson, Joyce A, The WAAAF in Wartime Australia, Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Vic., 1992, 422 pp. [ Details... ]