Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Daughter of W J C SKATE, Coldstream, Victoria.

Dorothy is a veteran of the Second World War.

Dorothy grew up on a farm where she milked the cows and fed the pigs. She was the eldest of 8 children and used to look after her younger siblings. Before her war service, Dorothy worked as a telephonist. In April 1944, aged 19, she enlisted in the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS). Like many members of the WRANS, she completed her initial training at HMAS Cerberus naval base in Victoria, where she qualified as an assistant cook. Dorothy was posted first to Cerberus and then to the HMAS Magnetic in Townsville, Queensland.

In May 1946, Dorothy was discharged from the WRANS. She is proud of her war service, when she enjoyed meeting others and forming friendships. She recommends that current serving members ‘always try to achieve their ambitions’.

After the war, Dorothy returned to her job as a telephonist. She married Douglas Mitchell in 1948. Douglas had been too young to enlist during the war and so he worked in an essential service. The couple went on to have 2 children. Sadly, Douglas and one of their children have passed away.

In her spare time, Dorothy played basketball and badminton. She liked to knit and sew and enjoyed reading and listening to the radio. Now, she watches TV and tries to keep awake!

And the secret to Dorothy’s longevity? She has led a healthy lifestyle. She is a non-smoker and non-drinker.