American Red Cross bag : J Dyason, Civillian Nurse, Australian Surgical Team, Vietnam

Rectangular green cotton bag with drawstring opening sewn into the top secured by two red ties. The bag is formed from a single piece of fabric that is folded and hemed in the inside on both sides. Sewn inside the bag is a label (40 x 12 mm) which reads 'AMERICAN RED CROSS MIDWAY-KANSAS CHAPTER WICHITA, KANSAS'.

Associated with Jennifer Mimi Dyason (later Hunter), a civilian nurse who served with the Australian Surgical Team, Vietnam. The severe lack of medical facilities and staff in Vietnam led the South Vietnamese Government to request urgent civilian medical aid through the USAID and SEATO programmes. Australia was one of fifteen countries to provide medical aid during the war. Dyason served in Long Xuyen as part of a medical team from Prince Henry's Hospital, Melbourne from February 1967 to October, and in Bien Hoa with a team from the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne from July 1969 to February 1970.