Penman, Alice Maud (1918 - )

President of the Women's Services Sub-Branch of the RSL, Alice Penman served with the Australian Army during World War II. She served in the Middle East as a Voluntary Aid Detachment member and then in Far North Queensland. Penman later served with the Australian Army Medical Women's Service (AAMWS) after the Government of the time decided to distinguish between military and non-military Voluntary Aids.

During the 'Australia Remembers, 1945-1995' celebrations Penman participated in a number of functions emphasizing the work carried out by the Voluntary Aid Detachment Red Cross members.

On 13 June 1993 she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to veterans particularly through the Returned & Services League NSW and to the Friends of the Northcott Neurological Centre.

• Burns, Alice (maiden name)

Events

1937	Foundation member of the Bathurst Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD)
1939	An Army Camp established at Bathurst and VADs worked in canteens, sewed a garment a week for the Red Cross, sold buttons and worked in local and camp hospitals
1941	Selected to join the Australian Infantry Force (AIF) for service overseas
1941 - 1943	Served with the 2/6 Australian General Hospital at Gaza, Palestine
1943 - 1945	Served in Atherton, North Queensland
1945	War ended
1946	Joined Women's Services Sub-Branch RSL, and has served in a number of offices including being Women's State Councillor on State Council for 2 years
1947	Assistant Commandant at Haberfield VAD
1952	Brown Owl of the 2nd Beecroft Brownies
1962	Family moved to Gilgandra, NSW. Joined the Red Cross and Country Women's Association
1987	Volunteer at the National Artillery Museum at North Fort. Has dressed two static models, one representing the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS), whose members served at the Fort during World War II and the other wearing a VAD uniform
13 June 1993	Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia
1995	Organised, with the help of Girl Guides, a memorabilia display at St Ives Shopping Centre as part of the 'Australia Remembers, 1945-1995' celebrations
1995	President of the Women's Services Sub-Branch RSL
November 1995	Along with a number of other Voluntary Aids from World War II, Alice Penman spoke about her wartime experiences at a commemorative luncheon as part of the 'Australia Remembers, 1945-1995' celebrations

Presided

• Women's Services, Sub Branch RSL (NSW)

  Joined the League in 1946 and has worked in a number of different offices including being Women's State Councillor on the State Council for 2 years

  [1995 - ]

Related Corporate Bodies

• Australian Army Medical Women's Service (AAMWS) (1942 - 1951)

  Service no: NF444266 . Alice Penman's service included 485 days of active service outside Australia

  [1941 - 1945]

• Voluntary Aid Detachments (VAD) (1914 - )

Books

• [Collection of poetry from the memorabilia of Alice Penman OAM], Australia Remembers Committee, [Pymble, N.S.W.], 1995, [46] pp. [ Details... ]

Online Resources

• Department of Veterans' Affairs, 'PENMAN, ALICE MAUD', in World War 2 Nominal Roll, 2002, http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/script/veteran.asp?ServiceID=A&VeteranID=186314. [ Details... ]

See also

• Linn, Rob, Their sacrifice: Australia remembers 1945 - 1995, Openbook Publishers, Adelaide, 1995, 103 pp. [ Details... ]