Interview with Beatty Crawford (When the war came to Australia)

Beatty Crawford worked for G J Coles and Co Ltd from 1932 to 1952. Beatty was the first woman to be made a manager. Coles Ltd had a large percentage of men join the services. Trained personnel were needed so Beatty and another girl were pilot managers. The attitude that women were second rate employees was accepted at the time by society and the women themselves. The rate of pay for a female employee, even at a managerial level reflected this. The women were told and accepted that any positiions of authority were only temporary. Beatty describes the shortages in merchandise, particularly paper goods and elastic. Beatty rotated goods received so that customers could not guess expected times when goods would be available. Prices had to increase and coupons were used. Beatty explained that reliance on friends and neighbours became the rule, and you would do what you could for others with the expectation thet the favour would be willingly returned. Part of the popularity of the American soldiers was their generosity and seemingly endless supply of cigarettes. Christmas during the war was fairly the same except children received more useful items such as shoes or clothing. Real change in attitude towards women in the workforce and rate of pay came later with the womens' movement.