{"id":8382,"date":"2025-04-07T10:48:57","date_gmt":"2025-04-07T00:48:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/?page_id=8382"},"modified":"2025-04-07T10:48:59","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T00:48:59","slug":"the-waaaf-and-the-women-who-served-evelyn-proposchs-story","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/the-waaaf-and-the-women-who-served-evelyn-proposchs-story\/","title":{"rendered":"The WAAAF and the Women Who Served: Evelyn Proposch\u2019s Story"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As ANZAC Day 2025 approaches, we pause to honour not only those who served on the front lines, but also those who contributed behind the scenes. Among them was Evelyn Maud Proposch (n\u00e9e Beaumont), who served in Brisbane during World War II as part of the Women\u2019s Auxiliary Australian Air Force<\/a> (WAAAF). Her story is one of quiet courage, transformation, and the unexpected paths opened up by war.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Read: <\/em><\/strong>The House He Never Called Home: Joshua Jeays and the Bardon House<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

A Country Girl Called to Serve<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
Evelyn Beaumont as a new WAAAF recruit in 1942 (Photo credit: Proposch Family archives\/judithsalecich.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 26 years of age, Evelyn was one of approximately 27,000 single women between the ages of 18 and 40 who enlisted in the WAAAF during World War II. She had grown up in country Queensland and spent several years working in Rockhampton, a regional city of about 30,000. Before enlisting, she had never been to Brisbane, let alone to larger cities like Sydney or Melbourne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
A recruiting poster for the WAAAF, with an image of a uniformed WAAAF in the centre (Photo credit: Public Domain\/Jardine, Walter Lacy; RAAF Publications Unit\/Wikimedia Commons)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She joined the WAAAF in 1942 and was posted to RAAF Command Headquarters in Bardon, Brisbane. Life in the WAAAF was strict and structured, but for Evelyn, it was also full of new experiences. It was the first time she had lived in a big city, worked in an office, or been part of a shift-based workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A New Kind of Military Service<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
A group of WAAAF women during a period of physical training at No. 5 WAAAF Depot RAAF (Photo credit: Australian War Memorial\/awm.gov.au)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The WAAAF, established in March 1941, was the largest of Australia\u2019s women\u2019s wartime services and the first to allow women to work in roles previously reserved for men. Its creation followed lobbying from women eager to contribute more directly to the war effort and a push by military leadership to free up men for overseas service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a clerk signals, Evelyn played a key role in managing communications for Allied air operations in the South West Pacific. It was demanding and vital work. She gained new skills, travelled more than she ever had before, and made friendships that lasted a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"WAAAF\"\/
Evelyn (7th row on the right hand side of the squad) at The Big March (Proposch Family archives\/ judithsalecich.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She took part in \u201cThe Big March\u201d through the streets of Sydney, which featured 2,500 servicewomen\u2014including 1,000 from the WAAAF\u2014and drew a crowd of 250,000 cheering onlookers. It was celebrated as the greatest women\u2019s march in Australia\u2019s history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wartime Paths to Love<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"WAAAF\"\/
Photo credit: Proposch Family archives\/judithsalecich.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was during her time in Brisbane, in late 1943, that Evelyn met her future husband, Lieutenant William Edwin (\u201cBill\u201d) Proposch of the 2nd AIF. They were introduced at a dance held in Brisbane City Hall while Bill was on leave. Their engagement followed a year later, and in 1945 they were married at St Paul\u2019s Cathedral in Rockhampton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their meeting was one of the many wartime encounters that changed lives forever. Evelyn\u2019s daughter Judith would later write that if there hadn\u2019t been a war, her parents likely never would have met. They came from different backgrounds and widely separated parts of the country, but the war brought them together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Homeward Shift and a Lasting Legacy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In early 1944, Evelyn\u2019s father became gravely ill with cancer. Wanting to be closer to her family, Evelyn applied for a transfer to Rockhampton. She performed her final shift at Headquarters RAAF Command on 21 March 1944.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Years later, in 2005, Evelyn received a commemorative medal in honour of the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. She was 89 at the time, living with her daughter Judith and son-in-law. Evelyn passed away on 30 January 2011 at the age of 95.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Read: <\/em><\/strong>Freer Farm Redevelopment: A Clash Between Progress and History of Bardon<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

This ANZAC Day, Remember the Women Who Served<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Evelyn Proposch\u2019s story is one of quiet service, resilience, and the far-reaching effects of a time that reshaped countless lives. She, like many other women of the WAAAF, stepped into unfamiliar territory and emerged with new strength, new skills, and lasting bonds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This ANZAC Day, as we reflect on the many faces of service, let us remember the women who kept the lines of communication flowing, who stepped beyond expectations, and who found their way in a world forever changed by war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Published 7-April-2025<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As ANZAC Day 2025 approaches, we pause to honour not only those who served on the front lines, but also those who contributed behind the scenes. Among them was Evelyn Maud Proposch (n\u00e9e Beaumont), who served in Brisbane during World War II as part of the Women\u2019s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF). Her story is … Continue reading “The WAAAF and the Women Who Served: Evelyn Proposch\u2019s Story”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":8383,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[543,542],"class_list":["post-8382","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-homepage-latest-news","tag-evelyn-maud-proposch","tag-waaaf"],"yoast_head":"\nThe WAAAF and the Women Who Served: Evelyn Proposch\u2019s Story - Bardon News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Among them was Evelyn Maud Proposch, who served in Brisbane during World War II as part of the Women\u2019s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF).\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/the-waaaf-and-the-women-who-served-evelyn-proposchs-story\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The WAAAF and the Women Who Served: Evelyn Proposch\u2019s Story - Bardon News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Among them was Evelyn Maud Proposch, who served in Brisbane during World War II as part of the Women\u2019s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF).\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/the-waaaf-and-the-women-who-served-evelyn-proposchs-story\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Bardon News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-07T00:48:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/omc-2025-04-07T082904.424.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/the-waaaf-and-the-women-who-served-evelyn-proposchs-story\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/the-waaaf-and-the-women-who-served-evelyn-proposchs-story\/\",\"name\":\"The WAAAF and the Women Who Served: Evelyn Proposch\u2019s Story - Bardon News\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/the-waaaf-and-the-women-who-served-evelyn-proposchs-story\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/the-waaaf-and-the-women-who-served-evelyn-proposchs-story\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/omc-2025-04-07T082904.424.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-07T00:48:57+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-07T00:48:59+00:00\",\"description\":\"Among them was Evelyn Maud Proposch, who served in Brisbane during World War II as part of the Women\u2019s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF).\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/the-waaaf-and-the-women-who-served-evelyn-proposchs-story\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/the-waaaf-and-the-women-who-served-evelyn-proposchs-story\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/the-waaaf-and-the-women-who-served-evelyn-proposchs-story\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/omc-2025-04-07T082904.424.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/omc-2025-04-07T082904.424.webp\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":630,\"caption\":\"WAAAF\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/the-waaaf-and-the-women-who-served-evelyn-proposchs-story\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The WAAAF and the Women Who Served: Evelyn Proposch\u2019s Story\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/\",\"name\":\"Bardon News\",\"description\":\"News and other stories about real people, places, and events in Bardon and nearby suburbs.\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The WAAAF and the Women Who Served: Evelyn Proposch\u2019s Story - Bardon News","description":"Among them was Evelyn Maud Proposch, who served in Brisbane during World War II as part of the Women\u2019s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF).","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/the-waaaf-and-the-women-who-served-evelyn-proposchs-story\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The WAAAF and the Women Who Served: Evelyn Proposch\u2019s Story - Bardon News","og_description":"Among them was Evelyn Maud Proposch, who served in Brisbane during World War II as part of the Women\u2019s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF).","og_url":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/the-waaaf-and-the-women-who-served-evelyn-proposchs-story\/","og_site_name":"Bardon News","article_modified_time":"2025-04-07T00:48:59+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":630,"url":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/omc-2025-04-07T082904.424.webp","type":"image\/webp"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/the-waaaf-and-the-women-who-served-evelyn-proposchs-story\/","url":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/the-waaaf-and-the-women-who-served-evelyn-proposchs-story\/","name":"The WAAAF and the Women Who Served: Evelyn Proposch\u2019s Story - Bardon News","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/the-waaaf-and-the-women-who-served-evelyn-proposchs-story\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/the-waaaf-and-the-women-who-served-evelyn-proposchs-story\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/omc-2025-04-07T082904.424.webp","datePublished":"2025-04-07T00:48:57+00:00","dateModified":"2025-04-07T00:48:59+00:00","description":"Among them was Evelyn Maud Proposch, who served in Brisbane during World War II as part of the Women\u2019s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF).","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/the-waaaf-and-the-women-who-served-evelyn-proposchs-story\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-AU","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/the-waaaf-and-the-women-who-served-evelyn-proposchs-story\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-AU","@id":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/the-waaaf-and-the-women-who-served-evelyn-proposchs-story\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/omc-2025-04-07T082904.424.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/omc-2025-04-07T082904.424.webp","width":1200,"height":630,"caption":"WAAAF"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/the-waaaf-and-the-women-who-served-evelyn-proposchs-story\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The WAAAF and the Women Who Served: Evelyn Proposch\u2019s Story"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/#website","url":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/","name":"Bardon News","description":"News and other stories about real people, places, and events in Bardon and nearby suburbs.","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-AU"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8382","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8382"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8382\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8384,"href":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8382\/revisions\/8384"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8382"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8382"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bardonnews.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8382"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}