Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Daughter of Thomas C SAMUELS and Evelyn Vera Mary SAMUELS nee ADAMS, 28 Union Street, Newtown, New South Wales.

Marie is a veteran of the Second World War.

Before her war service, Marie trained to be a ballerina. In November 1944, at the age of 19, she enlisted in the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) and was based in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. Marie initially trained at No. 4 School of Technical Training in Adelaide to become a telegraphist. However she was needed elsewhere, so she trained as a medical clerk assistant at the RAAF Medical Training Unit at Laverton, Melbourne.

Marie then spent a short period as a clerk at No. 2 RAAF Hospital at Ascot Vale, Melbourne, before being posted to Headquarters Eastern Area, in Sydney. She worked in the sick quarters, ordering food and supplies for the facility, fielding questions and taking phone calls.

Marie was discharged from the WAAAF on 11 March 1946. She says she enjoyed learning to get along with people from all walks of life. She has some advice for current serving personnel: ‘If an opportunity comes your way, take it and see where it leads!’

After the war, Marie applied for a course offered by the Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme and trained to be a court reporter. However, she ended up being an accountant instead. In 1966, she married John Whalen (her 2nd husband), who had served in the Australian Army in the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) in South Korea as part of the post-armistice peace monitoring force. John sadly died in 2008. Marie has one daughter – Rebekah – and 2 grandchildren.

When Marie was younger, she liked ballet. She enjoyed reading and oil painting until the age of 90. Now, Marie likes outings, listening to audiobooks and watching TV.
And the secret to Marie’s long life? ‘Telling no lies (which avoided stress), not worrying about what others said and eating lots of honey.’