Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Daughter of Rostron Lee VAUGHAN,  116 Cambridge Street, Penshurst, New South Wales.

She was born in the suburb of Summer Hill in Sydney, NSW, in 1925.

Before she enlisted, Shirley was working as a junior clerk and typist in the office of the NSW Flour Millers’ Produce Company Pty Ltd in Wynyard. The company was in an essential service industry, so she had to gain permission from the Agriculture Minister to be released from her duties.

In October 1943, when Shirley was just 18 years of age, she joined the Australian Women’s Army Service (AWAS). After her rookie training, she completed an Army clerical course and was posted the 113th Military Hospital at Concord in a clerical role. The hospital had been opened in 1941 to treat wounded and sick members of the armed forces. Shirley says she would have preferred to work on the wards helping to save young lives, but because she had topped her clerical exams, she was always placed in the office.

In March 1945, Shirley married Carl Harris who was a corporal in the Army. After the war, the couple went on to have 2 children. Sadly, Carl and one of their children have passed away.

Shirley was discharged from the AWAS in October 1945. She then worked as a punch card operator for the Australian Bureau of Statistics. After a while, she changed jobs and worked for the State Superannuation Board where she was in charge of three 15-year-olds. The 4 of them are all still friends today.

In her spare time, Shirley used to knit, sew, crochet and play cards. She also enjoyed travelling overseas and around Australia with Carl. These days, she watches TV and likes to pick a horse on race day.

The secret to Shirley’s long life is having a happy marriage, a healthy balanced diet and walking everywhere.