Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

One of five siblings who served in WWII, Private Julia Josephine O'Sullivan (Service No:WF45845) enlisted in the AWAS on 9 August 1942 - Signalman - and was attached to 52 Australian Wireless Section at Discharge on 7 January 1946. Private O'Sullivan provided a summary of her service (WA Government doc), stating 'I was desperate to enlist in the Army, having learnt Morse Code in anticipation of joining up, but my father refused to sign my papers. After much pleading and threat to join when I was twenty one, he relented' (p1). Private O'Sullivan described arrival at Bonegilla in Victoria '... there was a huge army camp of men. We were only about two hundred or three hundred girls so we were guarded day and night! Our first job was to fill our pallaise with straw, then we were allotted to huts containing sixteen girls in each hut. We were issued with full army uniform. It was August, it was freezing and we were homesick, confused and a little afraid!' (WA Governmebt Doc; p1). Private O'Sullivan says 'I recall clearly the 15th August 1945. The bells began to ring, the ships in the harbour tooted incessantly, cars and trams joined the racket and Brisbane went mad. People in the streets were singing, dancing and hugging one another with sheer joy. Peace at last! Life had changed forever. The question was, what now?' (WA Government Doc; p2).

Julia was born in Bunbury, Western Australia in 1921, fifth of seven children of Michael Edward O'Sullivan (b 1888 in Heathcote via Bendigo, Victoria) and Sarah McCarthy (b1886 in Melbourne, Victoria). Michael and Sarah married in 1915 in Dwellingup, where Michael was a Sleeper Carter. By 1920 the couple had moved to Bunbury with their children, and Michael worked as a Timber Inspector until 1925, when the family settled in Manjimup and Michael was a Forestry Officer. Following Sarah's death in 1940, Michael remained in Manjimup until his death in 1968.

Julia was working in Manjimup as a Shop Assistant before enlisting in the AWAS in 1942. Following Discharge from the Army, Julia became a Nun (Sister Mary Michael) with the Convent of the Sisters of St Joseph in North Sydney. Sister Mary Michael taught in St Jospeph Convent schools in Busselton, Kalgoorlie, Kellerberrin and Perth, and at St Gertrude's College in New Norcia. Sister Mary Michael (Julia) died in 2001. 'Life is what you make of it and for me LIFE IS GOOD' (WA Government Doc; p2)