A panorama group portrait of a large contingent from the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD), Southern ...

A panorama group portrait of a large contingent from the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD), Southern Command, Melbourne, Victoria who have assembled in a park for the occasion. The group is mainly comprised of females, wearing Red Cross VAD working uniform, although several males appear with them. The presence of the two uniformed males in the centre, officers in the Order of St. John, probably signifies that many of the nurses with them were also members of the Order. Of the two officers, the taller is possibly Mr Fred Raven, District Officer, St. John Ambulance Brigade in Victoria. The shorter officer next to him is another Brigade officer. The VAD movement had its origins as a civilian nursing movement which was widely represented throughout the major towns and cities of Australia. The VAD groups had close links with the Red Cross and the Order of St. John, who provided first aid training. With the outbreak of the Second World War War, the VAs, predominantly women, placed a huge pool of labour at the disposal of the government. The VADs were welcome for they provided, at little cost to the government, much needed additional staff for the army and civilian hospitals and convalescent homes. While many would later be integrated with the Australian armed forces, and serve overseas, the VAD organization maintained a strong tradition of service within Australia in large military hospitals and at other civilian establishments. Australian VAD members, and those who also joined the Australian Army Medical Women's Services (AAMWS), made a vital contribution to the defence of Australia during the Second World War. Some 8,485 served in both categories during the war and many VAD members who served on the home front would later receive the Civilian Service Medal in recognition of their wartime service to Australia.