Summer working dress : Commandant M C Hunter, 8 Field Ambulance, Australian Red Cross

Tailor made light blue ward dress with short sleeves.The dress fastens at the centre front below the waist with a zip concealed by a placket and with three light blue plastic buttons above the waist to the open neck line. The collar, sleeve cuffs, and removable self fabric belt are reinforced with lines of top stitching. Belt is secured with two light blue plastic buttons and passes through two belt loops on the side seams. There is a small patch pocket on the left breast on which is sewn a circular white badge with red woven cross and the words 'AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS'. The left shoulder bears a white cloth shoulder title with red embroidered words 'AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND RED CROSS' . The two slip on shoulder slides fit over self fabric shoulder straps each secured by a light blue plastic button. The slides have three brown stripes sewn to them for the rank of Commandant.

Associated with the service of F495002 Commandant Marie Constance Hunter (later Boyle), born 9 May 1933. Hunter joined the Australian Red Cross in 1954 as a member of the South Australian Blood Transfusion Service. In March 1966 she was selected for field service with 4 Royal Australian Air Force Hospital at Butterworth, Malaysia, serving there until July 1967 when she was transferred to Vung Tau, South Vietnam with 8 Field Ambulance until March 1968. She spent some months in Australia before returning to South Vietnam serving with 1 Australian Field Hospital from June to August. Hunter returned to Malaysia and served at Terendak Hospital in Malacca from August to December. From June 1969 to June 1972 Hunter was the officer-in-charge of Field Force personnel of the Far East Land Forces and ANZUK Force at the hospital of the Australian Army Headquarters in Singapore. Hunter was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in June 1968 and was awarded the Australian Red Cross Distinguished Service Award in May 1969.