Olwen Wooster facts for kids

Olwen Abigail Wooster was an amazing Australian air force officer and a very important expert in telecommunications engineering. She was born on December 22, 1917, and passed away on October 11, 1981. She even received the British Empire Medal (BEM) for her great work!

Olwen Wooster's Early Life

Olwen Wooster was born in a town called Charters Towers in Queensland, Australia, on December 22, 1917. Her dad, Vivian Henry Wooster, worked with telephones, and her mom was Ethel Abigail Wooster. Olwen went to Blackheath College in her hometown.

Her Career Journey

Starting in Telephones

Olwen started her career in 1934 as a switchboard operator. This was for the Postmaster-General's Department, which handled mail and telephones back then. She worked in different towns like Ayr (in 1936) and Townsville (in 1941).

World War II Service

During World War II, Olwen joined the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force in 1942. She became a wireless telegraphy operator. This meant she helped send and receive secret messages using radio waves. She worked at the Royal Australian Air Force's Melbourne Wireless Transmitting Station. Her jobs included being a cypher officer, which meant dealing with secret codes, and a signals traffic officer. In January 1945, she was recognized for her excellent service and was promoted to temporary flight officer.

After the War

After the war ended, Olwen continued her work in communications. She joined Trans Australia Airlines in Melbourne. Here, she focused on ground communications, which are vital for planes to talk to the ground crew. Her work became so important that it covered not only Australia but also the Territory of Papua and New Guinea. By 1954, her team had grown to 120 people!

For her outstanding work, Olwen received the British Empire Medal in 1961.

New Challenges

In 1964, Olwen took on a new role at the Victorian Totalisator Agency Board. This organization managed betting shops. Olwen used her skills to create communication and computer systems. These systems connected about 300 different betting agencies and centers to racecourses.

From 1967, she worked for a company called Honeywell. Then, in 1978, she started her own business called O. A. Wooster & Associates Pty Ltd. Her company specialized in computing and communications advice.

Important Memberships

Olwen was a member of many important groups related to engineering and technology. She was part of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (Australian Section) and the Telecommunications Society of Australia. She was also a member of the Society of Women Engineers in the U.S. and the Victorian Computer Society.

She even gave a speech about communication at the first International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists in New York in 1964. She was also Australia's representative for organizing the second conference in Cambridge, England, in 1967.

Olwen was also involved in community groups. She was president of the Melbourne Soroptimists from 1972 to 1973. She was also a member of the Lyceum Club.

Her Legacy

Olwen Wooster passed away from a heart attack on October 11, 1981, in Melbourne. Her important papers and records are kept at the University of Melbourne.