Mary McKenzie

Service No: 106148
Service: WAAAF
Place of Birth: Tuena
Highlights: Enlisted on 1 Sep 1942 aged 20 yrs. After Initial training at Bradfield Park, she attended training at No 1 Radio School, RAAF Richmond before being sent to 1 Fighter Sector HQ on 7/12/1942 as a clerk. This unit was located under Circular Quay in disused railway tunnels. On 27 May 1943 she was posted to No 19 Radar Station, Bombi NSW (South of Avoca Beach) as radar/radio operator. Next move was back to 1 Fighter Sector HQ, now at Bankstown, on 22 Nov 1943. Mary then moved to No 18 Radar Station Kiama (Saddleback Mountain) on 22 April 1944. At this time the station consisted of 4 WAAAF radar operators, a RAAF Radar Mechanic and 3 male guards either RAAF of Army. On 20 Feb 1945 she moved back to 6 Stores Depot Dubbo, before discharge on 21 May 1945. Mary went to her parent’s Tuena property on discharge, and married James Graham Reid in Goulburn in 1946. By 1950, they lived at the Central School Residence Lockhart NSW.