Army Nursing Service 1940 – 1944
Thelma started nurses training without her parents’ permission in Richmond, Victoria. As she was not 21, Thelma was not legally old enough to make her own choices.
When her parents discovered she was in nurses training, she was withdrawn under her father’s authority. Being upper-middle-class, ladies did not work, and Nursing was not considered a suitable occupation. Thelma was a trained milliner and dressmaker, which was considered suitable.
When Thelma turned 21 and could make her own choices, she continued her nurses training in Hobart, where she was visiting cousins. Her aunt told her she wouldn’t learn much out of textbooks!
Thelma was 25 when she completed her five-year nurses training course. She enrolled in the Australian Army Nursing Corps, training in Sydney.
Whilst serving in the Middle East and coming from a riding family background, Thelma joined the gymkhanas held in the Middle East, riding in pants.
With a sewing machine, acquired by one of the troops, Thelma sewed slings and bandages in her spare time. She made pyjamas for the other nurses, drafting her own patterns.
Thelma left the Middle East on the Moratoria which was headed for Singapore, when Singapore fell to the Japanese. All equipment and personal belonging landed in Singapore, so Thelma arrived in Fremantle with only her rucksack.
Thelma then served in Papua New Guinea.
In Papua New Guinea she met and married Leonard MacTavish.
With her flaming red hair, Thelma was named after Ginger Meg, becoming Ginger MacTavish, but this was quickly shorted to ‘Micky’.
Thelma was returned to Australia pregnant, although she still worked at the Victoria Barracks.
Thelma moved to the Town of Cambridge in 1989, where she continued her established friendships with returned nurses in the RSL.
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