Women\'s Royal Australian Naval Service at rifle practice. The girl on the left is Jean Gilmour.
The first 14 women in the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service were signed on in April 1941 as wireless telegraphists. 18 months later in October 1942 they were sworn in as enlisted personnel in the Royal Australian Navy. The number of women serving rapidly increased to 1000. The range of duties also broadened to include transport drivers, dental assistants, sick berth attendants, press relations officers, harbour messengers, radar counter-measures, censorship and intelligence among many other duties. They were also employed at the Gunnery School, small arms range. Some women were employed in classified areas, and sworn to secrecy.
The WRANS were disbanded in 1985 when women were fully integrated into the Australian Navy.
