Pattie Lees discusses her service with the Navy, the path that led to that service, and her later life. Born in Cairns as one of six children, Pattie and her siblings were taken into government care and eventually split up, with Pattie and her brother being sent to Palm Island. Pattie and her siblings were told that their youngest sister had died, but she had actually been adopted out. Pattie’s childhood in the orphanage was difficult, and she absconded at 17 to find her mother. Soon after, as part of her belief in having a purpose, and ‘not being a bludger’, Pattie joined the Navy as a steward at HMAS Cerberus. Pattie enjoyed the Navy, particularly as it ‘built’ her, and she had a close relationship with the officers she served. Pattie left the Navy when she married, and regularly attends Anzac Day, particularly to remember her friend Fran Loban, a Torres Strait Islander in the WRANS, based in Canberra.

This interview took place on 2 December 2014 in Canberra and was conducted by Dr Allison Cadzow with Magali McDuffie as part of the Australian Research Council-funded research project Serving our Country: a history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the defence of Australia.

The interview recording above is made available to be viewed here by permission of the interviewee(s), Pattie Lees. The recording may not be copied, reproduced or communicated in whole or in part without the prior permission of the interviewee(s). Requests for permission for use of this material should be made to the Serving our Country research project: our contact details.

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