Women at the Bendigo Ordnance Factory. During World War 2, with a critical look at the Oral History Technique.Lynette G. Cassar.bendigo, industry, ordnance factory - females

Jeanette Perkins was born in 1927 at Ballarat. She attended Alfredton State School and Pleasant Street State School before completing her secondary schooling at Ballarat High School (BHS). During her later years at BHS Perkins decided that she wanted to become a geologist, but was ineligible for university when she failed Leaving Certificate maths. She attended an interview with the principal (Heseltine) at the Ballarat School of Mines (SMB) and announced that she wanted to be a geologist. Heseltine was, according to Perkins, aghast: he informed her that there had never been a female geologist at SMB and they didn't want one. But Perkins persisted. Only then did Heseltine reluctantly enrol her in the School's Applied Chemistry Course which offered the most geological subjects, moreover, it was the only one he considered available to a 'mere' female. After graduating Perkins was employed as a metallurgical chemist with M.B. Johns Valves, Ballarat. In 1949 she married Alfred Watson. In 1951 Jeanette and Alf Watson moved to Melbourne where she commenced work as a metallurgical chemist at the Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory while studying geology part time: Alf returned to study at the University of Melbourne. Once again, Watson set a precedent by becoming the first female student to study geology part-time at the Melbourne Technical College. Increasing demands brought about by her growing family, she turned to part-time lecturing second and third year stratigraphy and palaeontology at RMIT. In 1957 the Watsons moved to the Mary Kathleen Uranium Mine in NW Queensland where he was appointed electrical design engineer. After their return to Melbourne in 1960, Jeanette taught herself to SCUBA dive and quickly developed a passion for the sport and the marine environment. She taught senior science to secondary students for 10 years whilst working towards a Masters degree. In 1991 Jeanette Watson was awarded a Doctorate from Deakin University.women of note, ballarat school of mines, alfredton state school, pleasant street state school, ballarat high school, leaving certificate maths, interview with principal, heseltine, geologist, applied chemistry course, no female geologists, metallurgical chemist, married 1949, melbourne, ordinance factory, part time study, melbourne technical college, rmit, part time lecturer, scuba diving, science teacher for ten years, masters degree, doctorate, deakin university

Bendigo Advertiser "The way we were" from Thursday, February 10, 2005. Hard at work: female workers get the job done at the Bedigo Ordnance Factory.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

a. Ethel Pattison Certificate of Service from Ordnance Factory between 16 / 6 / 1955 - 21 / 2 / 1958. Described as Female Process Worker, very good, with fair ability. Retrenched. .b O H M S envelope which contained Certificate of Service.ethel pattison, ordnance factory, reference

1. B&W negative of tram 468 in Ballarat Rd Footscray. Tram has destination Explosives Factory. Driver stepping down from cab and passenger walking from tram to kerb. 2. B&W negative of tram 468 in Ballarat Rd at Gordon St Footscray. Tram has destination Railway Station. Tram shelter shown in front of Powell Hotel. 3. B&W negative of tram 468 in Gordon St Footscray. Tram has destination Railway Station. Tram is shown at corner of River St on wrong side of road, so appears to be ready for shunting. 4. B&W negative of tram 468 at Ordnance Factory West Maribyrnong. Tram has destination Ordnance Factory. W2 454 is in background. 5. B&W negative of tram 468 in River St Footscray. Tram has destination Explosives Factory. 6. B&W negative of tram 468 in Raleighs Rd West Maribyrnong. Tram has destination Explosives Factory. Tram is shunting. 7. B&W negative of tram 468 in Somerville Rd Footscray. Tram has destination Russell St. Tram is shown with driver and female conductor posing for photographer. 8. B&W negative of tram 468 at Ordnance Factory West Maribyrnong. Tram has destination Explosives Factory. 2nd unidentified Tram is shown in background. Female conductor walking the trolley pole around. NOTE: - dates are not as marked on some photo envelopes recorded below as the Footscray closed March 1961.1. Paper folder that contained the negative had "NR30A" written in red ink, "F9" written in pencil, "20A" written in blue ink, and date stamped 11 Jun 1960. On rear, dates stamped 26 Sep 1962 (twice). 2. Paper folder that contained the negative had "NR36A" written in red ink, "F8" in pencil, "26A" in blue ink, and date stamped 11 Jun 1960. On rear, dates stamped 26 Sep 1962 and 6 Oct 1962. 3. Paper folder that contained the negative had "NR47A" written in red ink, "F10" in pencil, "37A" in blue ink, and date stamped 23 Sep 1961. 4. Paper folder that contained the negative had "NR32A" written in red ink, "F14" in pencil, "22A" in blue ink, and date stamped 11 Jun 1960. On rear, dates stamped 26 Sep 1962 and 6 Oct 1962. 5. Paper folder that contained the negative had "NR54A" written in red ink, "F15" written in pencil, "44A" written in blue ink, and date stamped 28 Sep 1961. On rear, dates stamped 26 Sep 1962 and 6 Oct 1962. 6. Paper folder that contained the negative had "NR56A" written in red ink, "F13" in pencil, "46A" in blue ink, and date stamped 28 Sep 1961.2. 7. Paper folder that contained the negative had "NR64A" and "NR105A" written in red ink, "F11" in pencil, "64A" in green ink, and date stamped 1 Jan 1963. On rear, date stamped 26 Sep 1962. 8. Paper folder that contained the negative had "NR62A" written in red ink, "F12" in pencil, "52A" in blue ink, "damaged" in purple ink, and date stamped 11 Jun 1960.trams, tramways, x1 class, footscray, ballarat rd, gordon st, ordnance factory, somerville rd, trolley poles, crews, drivers, conductors, tram 468, tram 454