Image right: Rita Smith outside the Chullora Railway Workshops, where components of the Beaufort Bristol plane were manufactured, December 1942. Courtesy State Library of NSW
March is Women’s History Month.
The advent of World War II led to a severe labour shortage in Australia as able-bodied men enlisted for overseas service. Women were expected to fill the gap in factories all around the country, primarily in those producing and supplying items for the war effort itself.
In 1942 the contribution of women to the local war effort was highlighted by the example of Rita Smith. Rita had given up her well-paying job as manageress of a beauty parlour to work at the Department of Aircraft Production’s factory at the Chullora Railway Workshops where the front fuselage of the Beaufort Bomber plane was constructed. Before the Women’s Employment Board, during an application by the Sheet Metal Workers’ Union for equal pay for female aircraft workers, Judge Foster noted the sacrifices made by female employees who were then paid about 60% of the male wage.
Beaufort Bomber 20 October 1941. Courtesy Australian War Memorial from the collection of Frances Middenway
Rita, a second class machinist, travelled from Neutral Bay for her 12-hour shifts as no accommodation was available nearby. She ate two meals each day during her commute to and from work and was away from home 15 hours per day.
Judge Foster noted: ‘Well, Miss Smith, I should like on behalf of the board, and as citizens, to express our appreciation of the part you and thousands of other women are playing in the war effort.’ [1]
Rosemary Deacon, sheet metal worker. Australian Women's Weekly 13 March 1943 p.37
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/51192418
Another witness, Rosemary Archdeacon from Campsie, had been absent from work for only two hours in nine months and that was to give blood. She maintained that women could not only do the work of men but, in many cases, could complete it quicker. A former dressmaker, she was interviewed by the Australian Women’s Weekly during March 1943. Interestingly she also commented on the repair of the aircraft.
‘Aircraft come to us from battle areas, battered and torn, sometimes full of bullet holes, sometimes looking like a steam roller has gone over them. … We see the broken down planes completely repaired and sent back into action, and it’s a fine feeling to know that we are helping.’ [2]
Unidentified woman constructing a pilot's seat in a Beaufort Bomber, 1943. Courtesy Australian War Memorial
Front fuselage of Beaufort Bombers at a railway workshop, 1943. Courtesy Australian War Memorial.
On 29 January 1943 a decision was made by the newly-created Women’s Employment Board that women should be paid at 90% of the male rate.[3] Rita and Rosemary attended the conference of women metal trade unionists in February 1943 where the controversial decision was debated. Industrial unrest resulted when some employers refused to increase the wages of their female employees. It would take until the early 1970s for the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission (ACAC) to introduce ‘equal pay for work of equal value.' [4]
By J.J. MacRitchie
Local Studies Advisor
References
[1] The Sun (Sydney) 7 December 1942 p.3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/230581858
[2] Australian Women’s Weekly 13 March 1943 p.37 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/51192418
[3] Daily Telegraph 16 February 1943 p.7 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/247862657
[4] National Museum of Australia. 'Equal Pay for Women' https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/equal-pay-for-women