Helen Francis Adamson as a member of the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps (RAANC), interviewed by Jan Bassett

Early life; civilian nursing training and experience; joined Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps (RAANC) in 1959; first posting to Puckapunyal in Victoria; describes uniform; posted to Ingleburn in NSW then to Malaya in 1962; describes nursing duties; relationship between Australian and British nurses; suitability of uniform in tropical climate; leave and recreation; returned to Australia; posted to hospital at Royal Military College Duntroon in Canberra; posted to No.1 Military Hospital, Yeronga in Queensland; description of the type of injuries and illness dealt with; posted as Adjutant to Citizens Military Force (CMF) training unit in Brisbane from 1964-68; posted to Townsville to establish camp hospital for Laverack Barracks; posted to Puckapunyal as Matron; posted as Senior Sister to SAS Regiment sick bay in Western Australia; returned to 1 Military Hospital, Yeronga in 1973; promoted to Assistant Director in Headquarters, Queensland District; promoted to Matron in Chief, Army Headquarters, Canberra in January 1980; administrative problems caused by married nurses, particularly those married to service personnel; duties as Matron in Chief; duties of Australian sisters posted to the Pacific Islands Regiment hospital in New Guinea; overseas exchange programs; whether army nurses should be trained to use and carry weapons; recounts story in Malaya of cart containing milk rations accidentally tipping over in monsoon drain; relations between military and civilian nurses/nursing; acceptance of married nurses in the army; introduction of new nurses' uniform in the 1970's. END OF INTERVIEW
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