Their passion, courage, resilience and commitment during wartime were all a precursor to the astonishing changes brought about by this incredible generation.įor the first time, women were doing their bit as nurses in war zones, members of the services, farmhands, factory workers or volunteers in community service.

Revealing poignant and personal conversations, photographs and letters, Between the Dances is a testament to real life during World War 2.įrom Malta to Australia, New Zealand to the UK, the challenges and adventures faced by these women were unprecedented. In preparation for her book Between the Dances, Jacqueline Dinan, interviewed over three hundred women around Australia to collect the last first hand stories from World War 2. Thousands of women ventured where few had gone before – into the services and workplaces previously considered the sole preserve of men. Now a regular speaker with the Country Women's Association, Australian Rotary Clubs, Legacy, Red Cross and Memorial groups, Jacqueline has become a well-known figure amongst The Returned & Services League of Australia.The start of World War 2 changed women's lives and their place in Australian society forever. Jacqueline's former experience was in corporate and art communications and events, before she embarked on her own public relations and events business. The accounts are enhanced by poignant, amusing and insightful anecdotes along with scores of previously unpublished and unique photographs from personal albums. The last tradition left was the weekly dance, which ceremoniously brought these courageous women and men together for a quickstep, fox trot and brief respite from the rigours of wartime.

For the first time, women were doing their bit as nurses in war zones, members of the services, farmhands, factory workers or volunteers in community service. Their passion, courage, resilience and commitment during wartime were all a precursor to the astonishing changes brought about by this incredible generation. From Malta to Australia, New Zealand to the UK, the challenges and adventures faced by these women were unprecedented. Revealing poignant and personal conversations, photographs and letters, Between the Dances is a testament to real life during World War 2. Thousands of women ventured where few had gone before - into the services and workplaces previously considered the sole preserve of men. The start of World War 2 changed women's lives and their place in Australian society forever.

Between the Dances by Jacqueline Dinan