MacLeod, Barbara Denise (1929 - 2000)

Former primary school teacher Barbara MacLeod joined the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service in 1954. During her service she served in every Australian state except Western Australia. In 1976 MacLeod became the first woman officer of any service to attend the Australian Administrative Staff College (AASC). Three years later she was the first woman naval officer of Captain’s rank to be posted to a male Captain’s position. In 1982 MacLeod became an Honorary Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to Queen Elizabeth. She was the first Australian woman to be appointed as an ADC, a post which had to be relinquished on her retirement. On 9 June 1975 Naval Officer Barbara MacLeod became a Member of the Order of Australia. She was also awarded the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal (1977) and the National Medal (1977) and Bar (1979).

Events

1950	Graduated from the Western Australian Teachers College
1951 - 1953	Primary school teacher in Western Australia
November 1953	Joined the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS) as a Direct Entry Officer Candidate
January 1954	Commenced Officer Training Course
24 May 1954	Commissioned as a probationary Third Officer
30 June 1958	Promoted to Second Officer
30 June 1962	Promoted to First Officer
November 1963	Advised on the setting up of the Wrans' quarters at HMAS Albatross, the naval air station at Nowra, NSW
1970	First woman sent by Defence to the Australian Administrative Staff College
1971 - 1973	Command WRANS officer to flag officer commanding East Australian Area
30 June 1972	Promoted to Chief Officer
April 1973 - 1979	Appointed Director of the WRANS
1975	Foundation member of the Australian Naval Institute
1975 - 1978	Vice-president of the Australian Naval Institute
9 June 1975	Appointed a member in the Military Divisions of the Order of Australia
1976	Completed Advance Course at the Australian Administrative Staff College (AASC)
1977	Awarded the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal
14 July 1977	Awarded the National Medal
1979 - 1984	Appointed Director of Navy Industrial policy and responsible for policy on housing, leave and pay
29 June 1979	Awarded Bar for the National Medal
1982	Appointed Aide-de-Camp to Queen Elizabeth and required to attend Royal functions whenever the Queen was in Australia

Director

• Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS) (1942 - 1984)

  [1979 - 1984]

Related Corporate Bodies

• Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS) (1942 - 1984)

  At the time of her retirement, Captain MacLeod had become the highest-ranking woman in the Navy, achieving a status - the closest any woman in any of the Services had come - to flag rank. In the Navy this is Commodore or Rear Admiral

  [1953 - 1984]

See also

• Cohn, Lawrence (ed.), Requiem for a Wran : New South Wales Ex-Wrans Association, Antelope Press, Doncaster, Vic., 2003, 95 pp. [ Details... ]
• Fenton Huie, Shirley, Ships belles : the story of the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service in war and peace 1941-1985, Watermark Press, Balmain, N.S.W., 2000, 341 pp. [ Details... ]
• Lofthouse, Andrea (ed.), Who's who of Australian women, Methuen Australia, North Ryde (NSW), 1982, 504 pp. [ Details... ]