Of South Sea Islander, Indigenous and European descent, Dorothy Murphy and Cecilia Stanley Taylor speak about their family’s history of service - Dorothy’s father and two brothers served in the army, and Cecilia served in the Women’s Royal Australian Air Force (WRAAF). Cecilia remembers only one other indigenous member of the WRAAF when she joined up, and she speaks about the good times and great friends she made in the air force but also the racism and sexism she witnessed. While she was sad to do so, Cecilia had to leave the WRAAF once she was married, and she has always encouraged friends and family members to join the services.

• Watch Dorothy and Cecilia’s interview in Townsville;
• Return to the Townsville Yarn Up page.