address by her excellency ms quentin bryce ac governor-general of ...

ADDRESS BYHER EXCELLENCY MS QUENTIN BRYCE ACGOVERNOR-GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIAON THE OCCASION OFOPENING OF THE WRAAF REUNION AND 60TH ANNIVERSARYTHE MERCURE HOTEL, BRISBANE28 JANUARY 2011WRAAF women, ladies and gentlemen,I am really delighted to join you for this very special occasion: certainly in the history of the WRAAF,but in the history of Australian service and ex-servicewomen too.Your sisters' early, forthright stirrings at the start of the Second World War began a story and amovement that are well and truly alive today:Their vision and nous in driving the formation of the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force in 1941;And their outstanding service through to 1947 - from a feisty contingent of 320 women, grew aformidable legion of 27,000.They did the ground work that would prove to the decision makers that Australia couldn't afford to loseits airwomen, in wartime or peace.And so it was that in January 1951 - almost 60 years ago to the day - the WRAAF's first recruits startedtheir training at Laverton and Richmond.A new generation of airwomen took up their opportunity to soar.You carved your names in the clouds and paved the way for the generations of Australian airwomensince.Today's RAAF women indeed stand tall on your wings.When I think of you, I think of the famous words of Margaret Mead, the clever and outspokenAmerican anthropologist:Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it's theonly thing that ever does.In the decades that I've been involved in bringing about reforms to improve the rights and opportunitiesof Australian women, I've always paid attention to what makes change happen.There's some good fortune in the timing, and some magic in how personalities and passions coalesce.But all that providence and energy can far too easily wane if there aren't the people at the grassrootschipping away at change, in real, attestable ways, every day.The WAAAFs during the war years, and the WRAAFs in the aftermath seized their moments in history -they knew the time was right for them, and that they must act.

They argued their case, won, and got on with the jobs they were so clearly capable of doing.You showed yourselves; other women looking on; and perhaps, most importantly, your male colleaguesand antagonists that women could meet the highest standards of the Australian Air Force.Through years of determined and first-class effort, you showed the whole of Australian society thatwomen could line up alongside men: do the training; work in trades and skilled technical employmentthat men had previously dominated; be the very finest electricians, fitters, flight mechanics, instrumentmakers, engineers, and, of course, pilots.You really are a lesson in how it's done; how to make change for the better, and for good.When I was a girl, I admired your strong, brave, cheerful faces, and your stylish, commanding uniforms.The blue forage cap with light blue piping. The smart jacket over the box pleat navy skirt. The blackleather sling shoulder bag, with black gloves and nylons.You made me feel safe and proud, but it was thrilling to watch you too.I guess I had a sense even then that you represented something important to Australian women.And I still feel the same.As Governor-General and Commander-in Chief, I'm so privileged to engage with our Defence Force inso many ways - they are an extraordinarily talented team of Australian men and women.But I have to say, I get a special thrill in seeing our Army, Navy and Air Force women, performing theirroles with such professionalism and skill.WRAAF women, you are an abiding source of inspiration to me, as I know you are to the women of theRAAF today.Patsy Adam-Smith wrote in the preface to her book, Australian Women at War, of one of the rarestcavalcades Australia has known - the fiftieth anniversary of the end of World War Two - when in 1995a thousand ex-servicewomen came to Darwin en masse.She wrote:These women - all happy to announce that they were over seventy years of age - travelled the thousandsof kilometres from each State and Territory and corner of the map of Australia.Some drove cars and station wagons 'up the track' to reach the Top End of Australia, others flew in, butit mattered little how they reached this distant outpost: they were coming to celebrate with friends whocan never be forgotten, comrades they hadn't seen for half a century, women who had forged a bondthey could never forget. My women friends, this national reunion and anniversary of 60 years ofleadership and achievement is a time to let fly, to rejoice in your rich and proud history, to count thehours and years of contribution you've made to the stability and future of this nation, and to cherish thebonds between you.I wish you a weekend of enormous joy and celebration.