Nov 10, 2020

WWII nurse Liz Astley, 98, will wear her medals proudly this Remembrance Day

 

Liz Astley, 98, served as a nurse during World War II. She has shared her story with HelloCare.

“I was nursing in the Pacific 2nd 6th AGH – Australia General Hospital. Coincidentally my Father was injured at Gallipoli in the first world war and he ended up convalescing in the AGH. 

“We spent some time in the Atherton Tablelands around Rocky Creek and Milanda (in Queensland) before being shipped off to various Islands in the Pacific to nurse.

Air sirens while aboard a ship in the Pacific 

“[I remember] the air-raid sirens – they terrified me, particularly when you are on a ship in the middle of the Pacific. 

“I remember one night I had just come off night duty and the sirens went off and I tried to get under my camp stretcher which of course, in hindsight would have offered no protection at all and was also impossible to get under as it was so low.    

“I remember vividly that the palm trees had tin foil wrapped around the coconuts and parts of the trees to upset the radars from the Japanese planes.

Life-long friendships

“Oh, the friendships were life-long. We had three to a tent and our tent and the girls from the next tent had a most wonderful time – but most of that has to remain a secret. 

“I do remember one day we took a group of the walking patients to one of the lakes nearby. I had my bathers and so dived into the lake most confidently. The “boys” were up on the dock nearby watching us. As I surfaced the water with a miraculous wave of my arms I realized that my bathers had rolled down to my waist. It was just one of the many embarrassing moments in my life.”

End of war celebrated quietly 

“I don’t remember that we celebrated [the end of the war] as there were still so many injured patients to look after. I was still in the Army. I remember seeing the footage of the man dancing down the street. I think some of us just celebrated quietly in our own way.

“On Remembrance Day I just remember all my Army friends. I am the only one still alive from our group.  We used to celebrate by meeting up in the city, but that gradually fell away as each one passed away .

“We will be holding a Remembrance Day service in our theatre room [at Carnegie Arcare]. And although it pertains to World War I, I and some of the other residents will proudly wear our medals from WWII and reflect and remember all our pals that we loved so dearly.  

“It’s hard to believe but next April I will be 99 years young.”      

Ed: Liz celebrated her 90th birthday by going skydiving with her granddaughter.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

“They conned me into it”: Telstra accused of overselling its products to older Australians

The Australian telco has come under fire for reportedly selling products to older consumers that they didn’t want or need – and who are now left with paying for expensive plans they weren’t made aware of. Has this happened to you or anyone you know? Read More

Australia’s first joint school and aged care facility opens in South Australia

  On Tuesday 28 May 2019, Australia’s first co-built educational and aged-care facility was opened at 54 Woodcroft Drive, Morphett Vale, South Australia. Onkaparinga Mayor, Erin Thompson, will formally openthe Southern Montessori Middle School, which has been built on the grounds of Kalyra Woodcroft Aged Care. The school consists of three classrooms with a total capacity for... Read More

Increased funding and staff ratios they key to increasing care hours

I gathered these thoughts together the day the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety was announced – Sunday 16 September 2018 if my memory serves me well. This information gathering was in response to the first question of the Prime Minister when making the announcement. The question was around the alleged $1.2 billion... Read More
Advertisement