Our thanks to the official Newspaper of the RAAF for the following articles
A 100-year legacy
June celebrates her 100th birthday with family and friends, including LACW Nicole Webb, in Adelaide.
Photo: GPCAPT Gregory Weller
THE life of WW2 veteran June Hunter (nee Hitch), who died in late July, was a story that spanned a full century.
Born on June 10, 1925, in Wilmington, SA, she is remembered by her community for her service as well as her milestone birthday.
The occasion was celebrated on June 8 at the Combined Ex-Services Mess in Adelaide, where RAAF Edinburgh-based aviators joined with June, her family and friends.
June’s legacy of service began when she enlisted in the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) as an aircraft hand on July 31, 1944, aged 19.
She travelled to Victor Harbor to complete rookies’ training at 4 Initial Training School. There, she slept on a grass straw bed in a tent during winter.
On completion of training, she was posted to 1 Flying Boat Repair and Service Depot at Lake Boga in rural northern Victoria. She was the only one of the 30 women in her course to be posted there.
June’s first duties were as an orderly delivering mail to officers, as well as other general duties. She shared a hut with 10 other female trainees and one course orderly.
June remustered to motor transport driver in March 1945, driving personnel and supplies on and off base.
At Lake Boga Flying Boat Base, June met her future husband Ron, a RAAF fitter, and discharged from the RAAF on September 27, 1945, not long after marrying him.
In 1961, June joined the Air Force Association Adelaide and attended regular meetings, luncheons and formed friendships over 60 years.
At her birthday celebration, GPCAPT Greg Weller told the gathering about June’s service in the WAAAF. He also presented her with a CAF Letter of Congratulations and a CAF Coin.
Meanwhile, two female aviators, including LACW Nicole Webb, a transport driver – June’s contemporary equivalent – swapped stories with June. About 27,000 women saw service in the WAAAF between March 1941 and July 1947. It was the first and largest of the WW2 Australian Women’s Services. Airwomen were recruited into more than 70 different trades, including armament, fitters and meteorology, as well as more traditional areas such as clerical, medical, transport and communications.
After June’s death in July, GPCAPT Weller and LACW Webb again joined June’s friends and family for a farewell gathering.
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From Broken Bones To Bullseyes
Cpl Michael Rogers
LACW Caitlyn Blumenthal competes at the Australian Horse Archery Association National Championships near Cairns.
“I decided if I was going to get hurt, I may as well get hurt doing something exciting.”
LACW Caitlyn Blumenthal
VIOLENTLY falling from a horse would make most people wary of getting in a saddle again, but for aircraft technician LACW Caitlyn Blumenthal, it had the opposite effect.
After sustaining a lacerated liver and broken bones during a dressage competition, she discovered a small but growing sport during her recovery – horseback archery.
“I didn't like the fact that I got hurt doing something so boring. So I decided if I was going to get hurt, I may as well get hurt doing something exciting,” LACW Blumenthal said.
The sport involves riding down a 90-metre track while loosing arrows at targets. Points are awarded for hits, with bonuses for completing a run faster.
Already a skilled rider, LACW Blumenthal took to archery “like a duck to water” and became one of the top horse archers in her age group.
But as successes piled up – three state championships, two national championships and a world champion by age 15 – she started to feel uneasy.
Only allowed to compete in the juniors, she was a level above her competition and found the lack of challenge disheartening.
“Friends would look at me when I turned up and smile and go ‘Oh my gosh. It’s CJ!’ And then I would just watch their face crumple as they realised, ‘Oh, it’s CJ. I'm not going to win today’,” she said.
“That was just a terrible feeling. I reached the highest levels I could within the sport at that age, but I wasn't interested in constantly winning and making other people feel terrible, so I retired.”
While not an easy decision, once unburdened from horseback archery she could concentrate on simpler things.
While she strongly considered studying nursing at university, she ultimately took advice from her father – a Navy sonar operator – and looked to join Defence as a medic after high school.
When no positions were immediately available, LACW Blumenthal joined as a gap year aircraft technician to get a foot in the door. But after training and posting to 1SQN, she fell in love with her once temporary role.
“I really enjoy the work. I enjoy the travel, but most of all, I really love the people. The people that I work with are absolutely my favorite part of the job,” she said.
It’s not just the variety she enjoys
– from working on the flightline launching jets to joining a duty crew with 13SQN during Exercise Pitch Black 24 – the technical role keeps her engaged.
“If you managed to learn absolutely everything about a Super Hornet, I would be incredibly impressed and a little bit nervous because I’m convinced it's impossible,” she said.
“There is always something that you can be working towards which is incredibly satisfying to me and I really enjoy it.”
It was also through Air Force that LACW Blumenthal started her journey back into the sport she walked away from.
Though she hadn’t touched a horse or bow since retiring, in 2024 she joined the Air Force Archery Association to do “normal archery, on the ground like a normal person”.
Not long after, a message from the organiser of the Australian Horse Archery National Championships had her flying to Cairns for her first ride in seven years.
Despite the time away and some self-imposed pressure to perform, getting back in the saddle was a lot easier than expected.
She took third in the Tower and Raid tracks, and fifth in hunt-style, placing fourth overall.
“The nerves were definitely there, but it was thrilling,” she said.
“I forgot how much of an adrenaline hit it can be to gallop down a run, in anywhere from seven to 12 seconds, while shooting arrows and controlling the horse with just your legs.”
LACW Blumenthal said the opportunity to compete against a bigger pool of competitors nationally and internationally through the ADF Elite Sportsperson program has her excited to ride again.
“There are people all over Australia that are incredible archers and incredible riders. It's thrilling to have that competition,” she said.
“If Defence is going to help me do something that I actively enjoy, that's going to keep me fit and is a little bit different from other sports you might see around, why wouldn't I?”
Quiet contributors to peacekeeping in South Sudan
SQNLDR Benjamin Clarke
Above, from left: United Nations peacekeepers from RAAF, FLTLT Thomas Ure, SQNLDR Dee Irwin and SGT Michelle Carmona outside the United Nations Mission in South Sudan force headquarters in Juba South Sudan.
Photo: SQNLDR Benjamin Clarke
WHILE peacekeeping operations often spotlight boots on the ground, it’s the behind-the-scenes professionals who keep the mission moving.
Among the 15 ADF members deployed to Operation ASLAN – Australia’s contribution to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) – three RAAF aviators are quietly enabling one of the world’s largest peacekeeping efforts.
Stationed in Juba, South Sudan, SQNLDR Dee Irwin, FLTLT Thomas Ure and SGT Michelle Carmona form a high-performing personnel capability team that ensures the Australian contingent is resourced, coordinated and ready to deliver on its mandate.
Their work touches every aspect of the mission, from human resources management and logistics support to working alongside international counterparts, allowing Australia to integrate into the 73-nation force of 18,000 personnel.
“This deployment has been such a privilege, knowing you’re genuinely helping the people of South Sudan to hold the peace,” said SQNLDR Irwin, on her sixth deployment and first under the UN banner.
“Supporting the United Nations alongside such a dedicated group of Australian and international personnel is a deeply fulfilling posting.”
For FLTLT Ure, deployed for the first time since joining the RAAF in 2018, the experience has been both dynamic and eye-opening.
“The most enjoyable part is the adventure,” he said. “I’m rarely bound to my desk – I’m out supporting the Australian team and my UN section, making sure they have what they need to do their valuable work.”
SGT Carmona, nine months into her 12-month deployment, serves as Personal Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff – Operations at Force Headquarters.
“Even the small tasks contribute to the wider mission of supporting peace in South Sudan,” she said. “Keeping the information flowing and people where they need to be has really highlighted the importance of personnel capability roles in international operations.”
UNMISS was established to protect civilians, support the implementation of the peace agreement, monitor and investigate human rights violations, and enable the delivery of humanitarian assistance. The Australian contingent plays a vital role in this effort – not just through military liaison and operations, but through the strategic human capability that keeps the mission functioning.
As global peacekeeping evolves, so too does the recognition that capability isn’t just about combat – it’s about coordination, care and the quiet professionals who make it all possible.
Sixty years of RAAF, love and life
. Photo: FLGOFF Casie Scott
Above: History and Heritage – Air Force volunteer Pamela ‘Margaret’ Wilkinson with a newspaper article from 1965 when she was serving as a nurse at RAAF Base Townsville.
The RAAF Townsville Aviation Heritage Centre is open to the public each Tuesday and Thursday between 9am and noon, and every Sunday from 9am to 3pm.
AS Pamela ‘Margaret’ Wilkinson walks the halls of RAAF Base Townsville’s Building 51, her memories of working from the site as a registered nursing (RN) officer more than 61 years ago are as sharp as if it were yesterday.
In a full-circle moment, 87-yearold Margaret is today a volunteer working from the same building, this time as part of the History and Heritage – Air Force (HH-AF) team, which has been working tirelessly since 2020 on a significant infrastructure and display refurbishment at the RAAF Townsville Aviation Heritage Centre (RTAHC).
“It brings back a lot of memories, being here, and there have been a lot of changes over the years,” Margaret said. “A lot of people have no idea, really, until you tell them that this was an active RAAF base.
“It is important that people know the history, what used to happen here and how we went from a sleepy country town to a very large garrison city.”
The RTAHC refurbishment honours the rich history of RAAF Base Townsville over the decades since it became operational in 1940.
Each exhibit has been painstakingly restored and curated, supported by the extraordinary level of military knowledge and experience of the HH-AF team, who will be on-hand to guide visitors through the RTAHC.
Margaret will be among those volunteers and, if you’re lucky, you may hear first-hand about the major RAAF air-sea operation of 1965.
“A signal came up from Canberra that there had been an explosion involving an international vessel, so they sent a Neptune out to find it,” Margaret said.
“It was February 1965 and 26 Japanese seamen were eventually rescued 240 nautical miles east of Townsville, including two who were seriously burnt when their vessel exploded.
“They’d covered them with cabbage leaves. The leaves were too difficult to remove so they could not be bandaged. All that could be done was to make them as comfortable as possible for the long journey back to land.”
Margaret’s colleague, RN Isabelle ‘Jick’ Service, was awarded an Associate of the Royal Red Cross for her efforts in the mission.
It is clear Margaret’s work with HH-AF is a love letter of sorts and a constant reminder of where she met her soulmate Jick, with the two spending more than five decades as life partners before Jick’s passing in 2014.
It was Jick’s niece Rosalind Service who encouraged Margaret to take her precious memories and artefacts to HH-AF in 2017.
“Ros kept telling me to take it up to the museum,” Margaret said.
“Eventually, to get her off my back, I did. I dropped everything off and as I was going out to leave, I saw a notice on the door that said, ‘Volunteers please’. So I thought, ‘OK. I’m going back to where I started from’.”
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You’ve Got A Friend In Me
Photos: LACW Maddison Scott
Founders of the Junior Aviator Group LACWs Kaylie Tibbey Alicia Maybury and Charlie-Elle McCarthy.
Junior aviators seeking friendship, support or someone of a similar rank to ask questions have a new place to turn. Evana Ho reports.
JUST as necessity is the mother of invention, the unique demographic of RAAF Base Glenbrook was the breeding ground for the Junior Aviator Group (JAG). Founded by three leading aircraftwomen, JAG has a mission of supporting, mentoring and empowering junior aviators.
One of its cofounders, who had been with 3AMES at RAAF Base Richmond, found the ratio of junior ranks to senior ranks at Glenbrook confronting.
“The Richmond demographic is younger and have people who’ve joined straight out of high school,” LACW Kaylie Tibbey said. “It was very daunting to go from a unit full of junior medics where the highest rank is your CO, to posting to HQAC where your two-star is just upstairs.”
For cofounder LACW Alicia Maybury, Glenbrook was her first posting, as an aircraftwoman in 2022. She described her first diningin night, a month and a half in, as “super terrifying”.
“We show up, a bunch of ACs, and thought that thankfully we’ll be sitting together,” LACW Maybury said.
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“But we were split up, sitting with high ranking officers, trying not to spill port on ourselves and use the right knives and forks.”
The geospatial intelligence analyst wound up seated next to CO HQAMG WGCDR Catherine Plenty.
“I sat looking obviously very terrified, because the first words out of her mouth were ‘Don’t worry – I’ve got you’.”
LACW Maybury had the idea for JAG after she helped a friend through a number of challenges that were taking their toll on their mental health, along with the struggles of being the lone “baby troop” in the team and one of the few on base.
“It wasn’t the policy or procedures that were the problem, but the lack of people similar in age and rank to talk to,” LACW Maybury said.
She made her pitch to WGCDRs Garth Andrews and Catherine Plenty, who introduced her to LACW Tibbey.
The third element of the trifecta was LACW Charlie-Elle McCarthy, a geospatial intelligence analyst like LACW Maybury. As a coordinator for RAAF Glenbrook’s Women’s Integrated Networking Group (WINGs), LACW McCarthy brought to JAG knowledge of organising events, as well as experience working in a different senior rank-dominant environment.
“When I was at the Air and Space Power Centre there was no one else at my level, or even close,” LACW McCarthy said. “So I had to ask all my junior-level questions about how to find the link to book a weapons test or ‘where should I park if I go here?’ to the warrant officer or wing commander.
“I’ve been through hard times where I might freak out about asking someone a certain thing or having to brief an air commodore. So it means a lot to me to be able to help junior aviators find their feet.”
The trio, who each grew up in Western Sydney, launched JAG with a series of events for mental health month in October last year. Since then, JAG has hosted Q&A sessions with DACAUST, one with WOFFAF, a PAR guidance session and selfdefence-style classes.
They have a program of activities slated for this year’s mental health month at Glenbrook, including a high-performance mindset talk, HQAC Olympics and social activities.
JAG now has 18 members, including its founders, who are interested in expanding the group to other bases.
“Since the dining-in night, the communication and support from WGCDR Plenty has never stopped,” LACW Maybury said. “Her kind heart, generosity and willingness to always stand up for what is right inspires me.”
“WGCDRs Plenty and Andrews took a chance on us girls so we could form JAG. Due to their actions, I’ve had more courage to speak up and speak to who I need to, which has helped me professionally. If I can give that back to someone else, I absolutely will.”
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LACW Alicia Maybury
There is no rule that says change needs to start at a certain time or a certain rank – you will be surprised by how many senior officers value your willingness to make a difference or provide a solution to a problem. Those initial interactions will always seem worse in your head than what they will be like in reality, so speak up and be the difference you want to see in the ADF.
LACW Charlie-Elle McCarthy
Just reach out and talk to them. They’re people as well. The scariest part is the initial conversation, but as soon as you start talking to someone, it’s not as scary as it seems.
LACW Kaylie Tibbey
When approaching a topic with a senior leader, approach it with curiosity. If you frame it from that place, they’re usually more open because they think they’re educating someone junior. Curiosity makes people share their open perspective, because the questions don’t sound so direct and like an accusation – which makes people put their guard up and more defensive.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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Recognition For Improving Blood Supply To Wounded
FLTLT Grace Casey-Maughan
SQNLDR Kathryn Staughton with the McCarthy Rowbottom Jones Memorial Award, at Gallipoli Barracks.
Photo: CPL Sam Price
“At the time when I joined, I had no idea how or what that would be. My regret is I should have joined a lot earlier.”
Staughton SQNLDR Kathryn
SQNLDR Kathryn Staughton, a scientific officer from 1EHS at RAAF Base Amberley, has been awarded the McCarthy Rowbottom Jones Memorial Award.
The award, introduced in 2007, recognises outstanding contributions to ADF operational health support by Air Force personnel whose actions exemplify compassion, skill and courage – the Health Services Unit motto.
The award is named in honour of SQNLDR Paul McCarthy, FLTLT Lynne Rowbottom and SGT Wendy Jones, who were killed in the Sea King helicopter accident on the island of Nias, Indonesia, on April 2, 2005.
SQNLDR Staughton was recognised in June for her moral courage and expertise, which allowed her to identify logistic, training and reputation vulnerabilities in the ADF’s ability to acquire, transport and transfuse blood products to battle casualties.
Her dedicated contributions to highlighting solutions for pathology testing capabilities has positioned Health Services Wing to provide safer and more effective care to wounded personnel, through the ADF Blood Program.
Hailing from Clifton, Queensland, SQNLDR Staughton joined the Army in 2017, before transferring to Air Force.
“Choosing to join the Australian Defence Force was about my search for greater purpose through contribution to a worthwhile cause,” SQNLDR Staughton said.
“At the time when I joined, I had no idea how or what that would be. My regret is I should have joined a lot earlier.”
The ADF Blood Program provides blood capability solutions to military clinicians to save lives of personnel on the battlefield.
“My role is from the ground up, delivering education to health capabilities on current and future blood capabilities; looking outwards to see what other civilian and military blood initiatives exist; highlighting to command potential shortfalls and providing some ideas on solutions; plus, working in a team to establish pathology testing to support emerging operational blood requirements,” SQNLDR Staughton said.
“I hope this award highlights to juniors in the pathology ADF capability just what is achievable if you apply passion and dedication.”
SQNLDR Staughton was recognised for her scientific integrity, excellence and reputation – which created the impetus for and guided the development of a novel clinical, logistic and manufacturing capability in the ADF.
The outputs of her expertise will shape and inform the ADF Blood Program.
“I read widely, engage with national and internationally respected subject matter experts and write a lot of briefs to highlight potential solutions to current and future blood problems,” SQNLDR Staughton said.
“I am supported by a responsive, encouraging and enabling chain of command. This is a game-changer. It is all about teamwork.”
SQNLDR Staughton said she was humbled to be recognised.
“I just go to work and do my job. This is my philosophy on life – no is the easy answer, yes is always the right answer,” she said.
SQNLDR Staughton’s mother, Daphne Hargens, said she was extremely proud of her wide-ranging experiences and endeavours during her career.
“It is thrilling as a mother, to see that her commitment to the pursuit of scientific innovation and service excellence has been acknowledged with this prestigious McCarthy Rowbottom Jones Award,” Mrs Hargens said.
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WHAT IS A HIDDEN DISABILITY SUNFLOWER?
It's a rapidly growing initiative spanning dozens of countries, including Australia, aiming to help the world identify and help people with invisible disabilities such as autism, chronic pain, dementia, anxiety, visual or hearing impairment.
In Australia and New Zealand 1 in 5 people are said to have a disability, 80% of these are hidden.
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By wearing a sunflower lanyard, lapel or wristband, people with disabilities that aren't immediately apparent can signal to other staff, colleagues and health professionals that they may need help, understanding or alternative communication methods as they go about their day.
This Scheme began at England's Gatwick Airport in 2016. The idea was to provide a way for people to discreetly flag their hidden disability and for the airport to train staff to recognise it so they could offer the wearer support. Since then,it has been adopted globally by major airports and venues and in the UK by many supermarkets, railway and coach stations, leisure facilities, health professionals and a number of police, fire and ambulance services, and an increasing number of businesses and organisations
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Simply put, the sunflower encourages staff to:
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Ask if they can help
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Be kind
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Listen closely
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Show respect
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Other sunflower visuals (like posters and badges) allow people with disabilities to feel welcome, understood and valued.
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The use of sunflower imagery (like staff badges, help desks and sensory-friendly bathrooms) also allows people with hidden disabilities to quickly and easily identify safe people and places where they can be supported and included, without having to wear the lanyard themselves
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The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is internationally recognised
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The Sunflower is a simple way to start to raise awareness and build understanding across organisations at the early stages of their Disability Diversity and Inclusion conversations
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Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme Limited, previously owned by Tabbers Limited, is a private company. Both Tabbers and Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme are owned by Tabbers Holdings Limited.
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For more information click on the sunflower
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JOIN NOW
The Defence Servicewomen's Chapter
of the Sunnybank RSL Sub-Branch
Need Your Support
Membership numbers have dwindled and unless it can be revitalised, the current Defence Servicewomen's once an RSL Sub-Branch and now a Chapter may have to close.
Background History
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Unless a servicewoman had seen operational service, she could not join the RSL. The Act finally changed in 1984.
The RSL Defence Servicewomen’s Sub Branch was formed in Brisbane in 1946 by returned servicewomen who had served in WW11. The Sub Branch has supported the needs of servicewomen throughout its history.
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By 2004, the Sub Branch membership had declined, the Treasurer at 88 years old was prepared to carry on but the President and Secretary could not cope. They were the same age and all members were returned WW2 members and they had kept the Sub Branch for their uniqueness.
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​Judith Munday (WRAAC) led the charge to help out and two quick phone calls saw Jean O’Neill (retired RAANC) and Margaret Huntley (WRAAF) attend the AGM the next day. It was a welcome sight that the 'young ones' had turned up and Margaret Huntley became President, Judith Munday became the Secretary and Jean phoned Madeline Ruffin and told her she would be Treasurer.
Over 30 members use to attend the meetings under ANZAC Square and it was a very happy time. However, as history shows the Sub Branch had to vacate the Square and were offered space at SED.
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​Over the years nearly all of the WW2 ladies have passed and gradually membership has declined.
​The Sub Branch has recently become a Chapter under the banner of the Sunnybank RSL Sub-Branch. Should we close, our history will be lost forever. Women with women should be a strong voice in the community.
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Join the Defence Servicewomen's Chapter of the Sunnybank RSL Sub Branch and help keep the history alive.
Meetings will be held in the new year, at the Sunnybank RSL Sub-Branch- 19 Gager Street Sunnybank
Further information, please contact:
Janet Noack (Delegate)
Mobile: 0419 659 902
Email: defencewomen.rsl@outlook.com
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Application Form may be downloaded by clicking on the RSL Badge
