Jenny Weir Makes History at Cronulla’s ANZAC Day Dawn Service
In a momentous milestone for the Cronulla RSL Sub-Branch and the wider community, this year’s ANZAC Day Dawn Service featured a historic first: Jenny Weir, a trailblazer in Australia’s military support services, became the first female Sub-Branch Member to deliver an address at the ceremony.
Jenny’s presence at the podium marked a powerful and symbolic shift in the ongoing story of Cronulla’s ANZAC Day tradition, recognising the often-overlooked contributions of women to Australia’s defence history. Her address paid tribute not only to the fallen but also to the countless women who served in vital support roles behind the scenes—plus many women who served in medical services at the front.
Jenny Weir’s own service began in the mid 1960s, where she worked in administrative psychological processing of conscripts during the Vietnam War. While the National Service Scheme—active from 1951 to 1972—formally conscripted young men, women like Jenny provided essential support to the Army. This allowed more males to be released to serve.
Jenny’s role placed her among a network of women linked to the WOMEN'S services in the Army, Navy and Air Force. These were formed in the 50s until the 80s. These women filled crucial positions such as typists, cipher clerks, and signallers, supporting the infrastructure that kept the Defence Force running.
“The efforts of women like Jenny Weir often took place behind the curtain, but their impact was profound,” said Cory Rinaldi, President of the Cronulla Sub-Branch. “Her appearance at this year’s Dawn Service was not just historic—it was long overdue recognition of a generation of women whose service helped shape the ADF.”
Jenny’s contributions came during a time of transition for the Australian Defence Force, as women began to be integrated into regular service roles. This change laid the groundwork for the greater gender equity we see in the ADF today.
As ANZAC Day approached, the Cronulla community was proud to honour Jenny Weir—both as a voice of lived service and as a symbol of progress in how we remembered and reflected on our nation’s military past.
