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17-763: The RAAFNS was founded in July 1940 at the suggestion of Air Vice-Marshal Victor Hurley , the Director-General of Medical Services. Margaret Irene Lang , who had served with the Australian Army Nursing Service during World War I and was then serving as matron of the Victoria Police Hospital, was appointed its first Matron-in-Chief. She was assisted by Muriel Knox Doherty . By December 1940 it had only 45 members, but this had increased to 616 by December 1945. The RAAFNS

34-575: A doctor, Hurley was appointed resident medical officer at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and in 1911 he became a registrar. The next year he was appointed medical superintendent, and during his time in the role there was an almost total rebuilding of the hospital on its Lonsdale Street site. He was appointed an honorary surgeon to out-patients in 1914 and commenced private practice in Collins Street. On 20 August 1914, Hurley

51-617: A fellow Australian serving as a member of the Voluntary Aid Detachment in London and they had two daughters and four sons together. They lived in various homes in South Yarra, Toorak and Kew and often holidayed at their family seaside cottage at Point Lonsdale. Hurley had a natural charm, equable, quiet cheerfulness, humanity, tolerance and easy sociability that made him approachable to colleagues and patients alike. He

68-693: The Australian Army Nursing Service , who could choose to serve overseas or not). From November 1942, shortly after the close of the Kokoda Track campaign , RAAFNS personnel set up a medical receiving station in Port Moresby , New Guinea, and were present during the Battle of Port Moresby . Others sailed on troop convoys, accompanying contingents of airmen to Great Britain, Canada or South Africa. Between November 1942 and November 1943 No. 1 Medical Receiving Station RAAF at Coomalie Creek, south of Darwin ,

85-905: The Cocos Islands , to RAAF Pearce in Western Australia, then to RAAF Richmond in New South Wales. In 1977 the Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service ceased to exist as an independent branch when it was integrated into the Royal Australian Air Force. All RAAFNS recruits were commissioned on entry with the rank of flying officer , though they had their own rank structure. Victor Hurley Sir Thomas Ernest Victor Hurley , KBE , CB , CMG (3 January 1888 – 17 July 1958)

102-672: The RAAF . Margaret Irene Lang was appointed its first Matron-in-Chief. By December 1940 the service had 45 members, but this increased to over six hundred by December 1945. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1945. Hurley was subsequently knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1950 for his public services. In June 1919 at St James , Westminster, Victor Hurley married Elsie May Crowther,

119-590: The Western Front , primarily with the 2nd Australian General Hospital. Hurley was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1917 for his services to the AIF – Australian Army Medical Corps. After completing his service with the AIF, Hurley completed his Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) before returning to Melbourne in 1920. He resumed work as an outpatient surgeon at

136-718: The RAAFNS in Korea were trained civilian nurses who enlisted for four years, but served only a one-year tour of duty in Korea or Japan. The last nurses returned home in 1956. During the Vietnam War the RAAFNS operated medical evacuation flights from Vietnam to Australia. The first flight took place in June 1965. Casualties were flown from Vũng Tàu , Biên Hòa or Saigon to the hospital at RAAF Butterworth in Penang , and from there via

153-837: The RAAFNS served at the British Commonwealth Mobile Surgical Hospital in Seoul , and the Medical Air Evacuation Unit flew patients to Iwakuni from where they were taken by hospital train to the British Commonwealth General Hospital in Kure . Between 1950 and 1953, 12,762 Commonwealth casualties took this route. RAAFNS members also accompanied 728 patients on flights from Japan to Australia via Guam , Manila , or Port Moresby. All members of

170-774: The Royal Melbourne Hospital and in private practice. Hurley rapidly regained prominence in Melbourne medical circles, being appointed a lecturer and examiner in surgery at the University of Melbourne, founding secretary (1920–23) of the Surgical Association of Melbourne and assistant to George Syme , surgeon to the Victoria Police. After Syme's retirement in 1928, Hurley was appointed to that position and held it until 1956. In 1921 he

187-618: The Royal Melbourne Hospital and was dean of its clinical school from 1929 to 1936. During the Second World War, Hurley served as Director of Medical Services for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), being awarded the rank of air vice marshal . The Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service was founded in July 1940 at his suggestion based on the UK's Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service as part of

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204-472: The first XI (cricket) and first XVIII (football). He entered the University of Melbourne in 1905 and earned exhibitions in pathology, medicine and obstetrics (M.B., 1909; B.S., 1910; M.D., 1912; M.S., 1913). While at University, he played VFL football for the University team. He performed well in his debut against Richmond and played every game until the end of the 1911 VFL season . After graduating as

221-569: Was a surgeon, medical administrator, military officer and an Australian rules footballer who played with University in the Victorian Football League . Victor Hurley was the eldest son of Thomas Hurley, state schoolteacher, and his wife Mary Elizabeth, née Scholes. Educated at various primary schools determined by his father's postings, he won a scholarship to Wesley College and then to Queen's College . He completed his Leaving Certificate at Wesley in 1903 and played for

238-618: Was appointed a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps , Australian Imperial Force (AIF), and sailed for Egypt in October. He served at Gallipoli from April to September 1915 with the 2nd Field Ambulance. Promoted to lieutenant colonel in March 1916, he performed staff duties at AIF Headquarters (London) in 1916–17 and mentioned in despatches for his "tact, ability and strenuous work". In 1917–18 he served at

255-637: Was bombed by the Japanese on several occasions. In 1944 No. 1 Medical Air Evacuation Transport Unit was created staffed by flight nurses of the RAAFNS. After the surrender of Japan in August 1945, RAAFNS personnel took part in the care of returning prisoners of war, until it was finally disbanded in November 1946. In 1948 the RAAFNS was reformed as a peace-time service. During the Korean War members of

272-700: Was elected to the council of the Victorian branch of the British Medical Association (president 1930), and he served on the council for the rest of his life, apart from a short interval during the Second World War. He was a long-serving member (1923–48) of the Charities Board of Victoria and a foundation member of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons . In 1927 he was made honorary surgeon to in-patients at

289-673: Was not a part of the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (which was not established until March 1941), but a branch of the RAAF itself. All members held commissioned rank, and wore RAAF badges of rank along with the RAAF medical badge on their tunic lapels and capes, but did not use Air Force rank titles. Most RAAFNS nurses served in clearing stations, base hospitals, station sick quarters, and rehabilitation centres in Australia, but all were obligated to serve overseas if required (unlike members of

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