This is Maud Aleada Coates (nee Groom), a veteran of the Second World War who has just turned 108 years old.

Maud was born in Natone, Tasmania. She was raised on a small dairy farm at West Pine, 131 km North-West of Launceston. Maud left school at the age of 14 to help her family out on the farm. When she was 20, she got a job as a home helper in Burnie and during her spare time, she attended secretarial classes. She then worked as a clerk for the company Tasmanian Breweries.

Maud enrolled in the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) on 3 March 1942 in Hobart, Tasmania. She was mustered as an Office Orderly due to her prior experience and typing skills.

After travelling to the mainland for her first posting at the No. 1 Engineering School at Melbourne Showgrounds, Maud received training as a wireless telegraphist. Upon completing her training, Maud was posted to the records section of RAAF Headquarters where she served as a clerk general from 10 February 1943.

On 4 November 1943, she was posted to the RAAF Canteen Services Unit in Melbourne and then moved to the Southern region where she served for the remainder of the war.

On 1 January 1945, she was promoted to Temporary Corporal and was later discharged on 25 February 1946.

After the war, Maud married George Coates, and they shared three children together.

Happy Birthday Maud!

Details courtesy of Department of Veterans’ Affairs.