Violet McKenzie, Australia’s first female electrical engineer. During WW II she set up a signal instruction school, the Women’s Emergency Signalling Corps, initially for women to teach them telegraphy so that they could replace men in this occupation. During World War Two over 12,000 servicemen were also trained in morse code by her. The training of female telegraphists ultimately led to the establishment of the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service – the WRANS.
