The eldest child of army officer Major General Godfrey George Howy and Ada Minni Margueritha (née Derham) Irving, Sybil Irving's education was conducted at the various postings her father obtained. This included attending Lauriston Girls' High School, which had been founded by her aunts Margaret and Lillian Irving.

During World War I Irving was a Voluntary Aid Detachment member with the the Australian Red Cross. From 1924 until 1940 she was secretary of the Girl Guides' Association, Victoria. In 1940 she was appointed assistant-secretary of the Australian Red Cross Victorian Division. Invited in 1941 to establish and head the Australian Women's Army Service, Sybil Irving held this position until 1946. She later became Honorary Colonel of the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps. After the war Sybil Irving became general secretary of the Victorian Division of the Red Cross. Upon her retirement in 1959 she was made an honorary life member of the society.

Sybil Irving died on 28 March 1973 and was buried at Fawkner cemetery with full military honours.

Events

1924 - 1940

Secretary of the Girl Guides' Association, Victoria. Tragic results of Poliomyolitis led Miss Irving to use her talent for needlework to teach the physically handicapped through the Girl Guide Extension Branch.

1935 - 1973

Foundation member of the Victorian Society for Crippled Children (and Adults). Sybil Irving's was one of the two original signatures on the Articles of Association, and she continued to work for VSCCA all her life.

2 January 1939

Appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

1940 - 1941

Assistant Secretary of the Australian Red Cross, Victorian Division

6 October 1941 - 31 December 1946

Controller of the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS). Appointed to establish and administer the Service which subsequently numbered 26,000.

January 1942

Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel

February 1943

Promoted to Colonel

1947 - 1959

General Secretary of the Australian Red Cross, Victorian Division. Awarded Honorary Life Membership and the Medal for Meritorious Service.

1951 - 1961

Honorary Colonel of the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC)

1961 - 1971

Consultant to Elderly Citizens Clubs, with the Old Peoples Welfare Council, Victoria (later Victorian Council on the Ageing).

Sources used to compile this entry: Bassett, Jan, 'Irving, Sybil Howy (1897-1973)', in Australian Dictionary of Biography Online, Australian National University, 2006, http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A140610b.htm; Additional information supplied by Amy Taylor AM, OAM, President of the AWAS Association of NSW and Jessie Perkins MBE, RFD, ED (Retd), President AWAS Association of Vic.