MITCHELL, Wilma Alixe
| Other Name: | MILLER, Wilma Alixe - Married Name |
|---|---|
| Service Number: | NF466000 |
| Enlisted: | 21 December 1943, Paddington, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | Australian Army Medical Women's Service |
| Born: | Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia, 8 November 1925 |
| Home Town: | Katoomba, Blue Mountains Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Home Duties |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 21 Dec 1943: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, NF466000, Australian Army Medical Women's Service , Paddington, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Apr 1947: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, NF466000 |
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Daughter of Allan George MITCHELL, Hillview, King Road, Katoomba, New South Wales.
Wilma, known as Billie, was born in Bathurst, NSW, and was raised on a dairy farm outside Denman.
Billie is a veteran of the Second World War. Before her service, she worked on a relative's farm outside Bathurst. In December 1943, having just turned 18, Wilma enlisted in the Australian Army Medical Women’s Service (AAMWS). The AAMWS assisted the medical and nursing staff in hospitals and other medical units.
Following her recruit training, in February 1944, Billie was posted to the 102nd Australian General Hospital (AGH) at Tamworth, NSW. She began her duties as one of the hospital’s telephonists. In July, the 102nd AGH was relocated to Brisbane. The hospital cared for casualties evacuated from New Guinea and Bougainville and also troops who were injured or became ill in Australia. In January 1946, Billie was transferred to the 116th AGH, also in Brisbane, returning to the 102nd AGH three months later.
In June 1946, Billie was posted back to her home state of NSW. She served in the 113th Military Hospital at Concord, Sydney, and was reclassified as a nursing orderly before she was discharged in April 1947. As well as contributing to the war effort, Billie says she made firm friends. She enjoyed the social side of service after living and working in rural areas.
While serving at Concord, Billie met her future husband. Stuart George Miller served in the Royal Australian Air Force for over 10 years, first as a nursing orderly and then as a pilot. The couple married before Stuart left the RAAF in 1948. They went on to have 2 children. Billie was a housewife while her children were young and later worked with community services. She took up bark art and was awarded prizes at the Royal Easter Show, later teaching at community centres.
In her spare time, Billie enjoyed gardening and travelling overseas with Stuart and then with her son. Sadly, Stuart died in 1987 and one of their children and a grandchild have also passed away. These days, Billie enjoys going on drives with her son.
And the secret to Billie’s long life? She has led a healthy lifestyle and had a healthy diet. Billie says she has good genes and has always been active. Billie was a keen gardener and spent all her time outside.
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