Ever wondered what it's actually like to work inside a flying hospital? Or be responsible for some of a warship's most critical systems?

Through archival recordings and firsthand accounts, this episode takes you inside more than a century of Australian women's military service.

You'll hear stories of split-second decisions, technical challenges, unexpected humour, and life in environments most of us will never experience. From ambulance drivers in the First World War and Australia's first female official war artist, to Vietnam evacuation flights, Navy deployments and helicopter operations in Afghanistan.

These are stories of responsibility, resilience and determination in environments few of us will ever experience. Discover what service felt like through the eyes of the women who lived it.

This episode is brought to you by Leidos Australia.

Timecodes:

00:00-00:53 – Content warning

00:55-03:13 - Vietnam medevac: Nurses in the air

03:13-03:40 – Introduction to women in service

03:40-07:52 – Olive May King: Driving towards the front

07:53-14:34 – Nora Heysen: Painting the war

14:34-32:12 – Felicity Petrie: Life at sea

32:12-40:48 – Patricia Furbank: Bringing the wounded home

40:48-1:01:20- Naomi Shephard: Flying Chinooks in Afghanistan

1:01:20-1:03:17 – Reflections: Over a century of service

Show notes:

Want to go deeper into the stories featured in this episode?

Discover the people, objects, voices and histories behind these accounts, including collection items, photographs and personal records from the Australian War Memorial.

Explore the full episode online:

https://wm.awm.gov.au/podcast/she-went-war

View the RAAF C-130E Hercules aeromedical evacuation aircraft.

If this episode raises difficult feelings, support is available:

· Lifeline (24/7 crisis support): 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au

· Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 or beyondblue.org.au

· Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling: 1800 011 046 or openarms.gov.au

· Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au