Australia at War: The Challenges and Opportunities for Women During World War II

The start of World War II changed women’s lives and their place in Australian society like in other countries. Thousands of women ventured where few had gone before – into the services and workplaces previously considered the sole preserve of men. In preparation for her book Between the Dances: World War II Women tell their Stories  (Ventura Press, 2015) Jacqueline Dinan interviewed over three hundred women around Australia to collect the last first hand stories from World War II. Revealing poignant and personal conversations, photographs and letters, Between the Dances is a testament to real life during World War II. This article contains extracts from Jacqueline Dinan's book and provides  an eclectic collection of short stories from women who lived through World War II in different parts of Australia