Val Veivers, Dulcie Newberrie on what Anzac Day means to them

From servicing planes returning from Papua New Guinea to celebrating her 101st birthday, two servicewomen share their stories of service, sacrifice and what Anzac Day means to them.

From servicing planes returning from Papua New Guinea to celebrating her 101st birthday, two servicewomen have shared stories of service, sacrifice and what Anzac Day means to them.

Dulcie Newberrie and Val Veivers may have served in different branches of the Australian women’s armed forces, but the common thread to their stories is a life of love and service for their country.

For former Australian Women’s Army Servicewoman Dulcie Newberrie, who will turn 101 on April 25, it is an honour to spend her birthday acknowledging the men and women who have given their lives in defence of the nation.

Far North resident Dulcie Newberrie worked as a stenographer in the Australian Women's Army Service during World War II. She will celebrate her 101st birthday on Anzac Day. Photo" Catherine Duffy.

“My father served in the First World War and he went back in the Second World War, as one of the senior members, so it was sort of in the family,” Ms Newberrie said.

Ms Newberrie enlisted in the Australian Women’s Army Service in 1942, after she turned 18.

She was based in Marrickville, Sydney where she worked as a stenographer and a secretary for army officers.

It was there she met her husband of 81 years, Colin Newberrie, who served in Papua New Guinea.

“My husband was in the air force and I was in the army, but one of my friends was offered tickets to the theatre or something and had spare tickets, so I went along,” she said.

The couple married when Ms Newberrie turned 21 and adopted two children, Judith and Graham.

“He was from Sarina and I was from Sydney, so we moved up north after the war,” she said.

101-year-old Dulcie Newberrie will celebrate her milestone birthday by attending and speaking at an Anzac Day service. Photo: Supplied.

While Ms Newberrie had fond memories of her service, she also recalled the horrors of war, including seeing returned prisoners of war for the first time.

“The prisoners of war came to us at Marrickville, they just came through with the soldiers and it just hit me then,” she said.

“These young chaps went away and they came back just so old, it was sad.

“War does a lot of cruel things.”

Ms Newberrie completed the duration of her war service in Australia and later moved to North Queensland with her family.

While neither of her children joined the armed forces, some of her grandchildren have joined cadet programs, including a regiment in Atherton.

“It’s exciting to see a couple of my grandchildren following much the same steps,” she said.

Cairns servicewoman Val Veivers enlisted in the Women's Australian Auxiliary Air Force during World War II. On Anzac Day, she will pass the torch to the youngest member of the region's youngest defence force member at the Cairns RSL Sub Branch Anzac Day Dawn Service on the Cairns Esplanade. Photo: Catherine Duffy.

For ex-servicewoman Val Veivers, Anzac Day is a special day to honour the memory of her fellow veterans, including her two older brothers.

“I had two older brothers overseas,” Ms Veivers said.

“One in New Guinea and the other in the Middle East.”

Ms Veivers enlisted in the Womens Australian Auxiliary Air Force when she turned 18.

“I was cleaning the outpatients in the hospital – back then you were given a job and you did it,” she said.

“I didn’t want to be cleaning floors all the time so when I turned 18, I told my mother I was going to enlist and she said, do as you please, so I did.”

Ms Veivers joined the WAAAF around 1944, where she checked planes returning from Papua New Guinea.

Cairns servicewoman Val Veivers enlisted in the Women's Australian Auxiliary Air Force during World War II. She is one of the oldest living veterans in the region.

“Every time a plane went in the air, my mother would point and say, Val’s on that one,” she said.

“It was a great life – you had to be very disciplined and do what you were told or you’d have a hard time.”

“If I could do it all again, I would.”

One of her fondest memories was a story told to her by one of her brother’s mates.

“My picture was in one of the army booklets that was sent overseas and my brother’s friends said to him, hey Bob, your sister’s in this book,” she said.

“Bob said, no she couldn’t be, and when he saw me in it, he couldn’t believe it.”

World War II veteran Val Veivers and former National Serviceman Neville O'Brien lay a wreath at the cenotaph together. Picture: Brendan Radke

While most of her fellow servicewoman have died, Ms Veivers was glad to honour their memory by participating in Anzac Day services, alongside partner and National Serviceman Neville O’Brien.

“It’s one of the most special days for us,” Mr O’Brien said.

Today, Ms Veivers, assisted by Mr O’Brien, uphold the Cairns tradition where the oldest living veteran hands over a torch to the region’s youngest defence force member at the Cairns RSL Sub Branch Anzac Day Dawn Service on the Cairns Esplanade.

“It’s a really good feeling,” Ms Veivers said.

Originally published as Val Veivers, Dulcie Newberrie on what Anzac Day means to them