Violet McKenzie, Australia’s First Female Electrician from Austi.

Mrs Mac Pioneering Engineer, Teacher and Wartime Legend 

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Florence Violet McKenzie (Mrs Mac)

1890-1982

‘Violet McKenzie, Australia’s First Female Electrician from Austi.’

1     Lived in Austinmer, Went to Thirroul Public School (Florence Wallace)

2     Won a scholarship to Sydney Girls High School, (travelled by train)

3     Australia’s First Female Electrical Engineer (Sydney Technical College)

4     Sales and Repair shop, Royal Arcade Sydney

5     Married Cecil McKenzie then known as Violet McKenzie

6     First Australian Female Radio Telegraphist

7     Female Member of the Wireless Institute of Australia

8     First woman to hold an Amateur Radio Licence in Australia

9     Founded the Electrical Association for Women (Australia)

10     Published the First woman’s guide for Cooking with Electricity

11     Published an Electrical Education guide for children

12     Corresponded regularly with Albert Einstein

13     Joined the Australian Women’s Flying Club, learned Morse Code

14     Formed the Women’s Emergency Signalling Corps

15     Trained over 3000 women in signals (Volunteer)

16     By 1945 she had trained over 12,000 men in Morse Code

17     Trained the First 14 women to start the WRANS

18     Was appointed an OBE in 1950

19     She continued scientific study, reading, gardening and jam making