Major Joan Christie was selected to act as an Assistant Commandant to go to the Middle East with a second draft of Voluntary Aids in 1941. The operation was cancelled due to Japanese military activity in the South West Pacific area.

Based at 113 Australian General Hospital as a Company Commander Joan Christie became a full-time Voluntary Aid in November 1941. She transferred to the Australian Army Medical Women's Service ( A.A.M.W.S.) when it was formed in December 1942, and was promoted to the rank of Major on the 1st March 1943. That same month she was appointed Deputy to Lt Col. Kathleen Best who was, at the time, the Adjutant-General of the Women's Services.

Having relinquished her command at 113 A.G.H. in March 1943, Major Christie went to New Guinea in charge of the first draft of A.A.M.W.S. in December 1943, and shortly after her arrival she was appointed Assistant Controller, South West Pacific Area. She was responsible for over 400 women in the Pacific region.

When she returned from New Guinea in 1944 Major Christie resumed her command at 113 A.G.H. In May 1946 she represented the A.A.M.W.S. as part of the Australian contingent in the Victory Pageant.

She married in 1947 and raised four children, along with having an ative life in the local community, serving as a local councillor. She was a great supporter of adult education and the Technical and Further Education system.

Events

1918

Born to Wilfred and Beatrix Christie in Dubbo

1934 - 1935

Captain of Coolabah House, Dubbo High School

1935

Captain and Dux of Dubbo High School

1939 - 1940

Co-founder and Commandant, Dubbo Voluntary Aid Detachment, No. 226

c. 1940

Ladies Doubles Hardcourt Tennis Champion, NSW

1941 - 1942

Officer-in-Charge, Australian Army Medical Womens Service, 113 AGH

1943

Officer-In-Charge, AAMWS, New Guinea force

1943

Assistant Controller, AAMWS, South West Pacific Area

1943

Aide-de-Camp to Lady Zara Gowrie, wife of Govenor General of Australia

1943

Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, Women's Service, Australian Army

1944

Officer-In-Charge, AAMWS 113 AGH Concord Repatriation Hospital

1946

Representative AAMWS Officer, London Victory March, June 1946

1947

Married Robert Ellice-Flint, St Andew's Presbyterian Church Dubbo

1947 - 2001

Mother of four boys - Gordon '47-, Ken '49-'52, Wilfred '53-, David '55-'79

1965 - 1980

Member, Dubbo Technical and Further Education (TAFE) Committee

1966 - 1980

Co-founder and Chairperson, Dubbo Educational Association

1968 - 1980

Inaugural Member, Council of Mitchell College of Advanced Education

1971 - 1977

Alderman, Dubbo City Council

1972

Member, National Urban & Regional Development Authority | Cities Commission

1972 - 1979

Deputy Chairperson, Council of Mitchell College of Advanced Education

1973 - 1974

Member, Open University Committee - Karmel Report

1974 - 1980

Deputy Chair, Management Board, Orana Educational Association

1975 - 1977

Member, Macquarie Regional Library Committee

1975 - 1979

Member, Board of Continuing Education, University of New England

1978 - 1983

Member, TAFE Council NSW

1979

Chairperson, Council of Mitchell College of Advanced Education

1979 - 1983

Member, Board of Adult Education NSW

1980 - 1983

Chairperson, Orana Community College Council

1984

Awarded Medal of the Order of Australia - for services to Education & Community

1984

'Joan Flint Park' (adjacent to Dubbo TAFE College) named by Dubbo City Council

1989

Awarded the Inaugural National TAFE Gold Medal | Mayoral Civic Reception, Dubbo

1990

'Joan Flint Building' - Opening at Orana Community College, Dubbo campus

1994

Awarded Doctorate of the University (honoris causa), Charles Sturt University

2001

Died in Dubbo

Sources used to compile this entry: Chisholm, Alec H (ed.), Who's Who in Australia, 1947, The Herald and Weekly Times, Melbourne, 1947, 926 pp; Private email correspondence provided by a relative on July 1, 2009.