Eleanor Manning (21 March 1906 – 21 November 1986) was a member of the

Women's Australian National Services A woman is an adult female human. Prior to adulthood, a female human is referred to as a girl (a female child or adolescent). The plural ''women'' is sometimes used in certain phrases such as "women's rights" to denote female humans regardl ...

and became the most senior officer of the

Australian Women's Army Service The Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS) was a non-medical women's service established in Australia during the Second World War. Raised on 13 August 1941 to "release men from certain military duties for employment in fighting units" the servi ...

(AWAS) in the State of

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

. Manning was active in Girl Guiding both in Australia and internationally.

Life

Born in 1906, Manning was the daughter of Sir Henry and Lady Manning. She was a pupil at Frensham School in Mittagong, New South Wales. When the Australian Women's Army Service was established in October 1941, Manning was appointed Assistant Controller, Eastern Command with the rank of Major. After attending the first Officers Training School held at Yarra Junction, Victoria in November 1941, she returned to Sydney and commenced duty at Headquarters Victoria Barracks, Sydney. She and her staff were responsible for the recruitment and initial training of all AWAS enlistments in New South Wales. In 1943, Manning became Deputy Controller to the Controller, Colonel

Sybil Irving Sybil Howy Irving (25 February 1897 – 28 March 1973) was an Australian military officer who was the founder and controller of the Australian Women's Army Service during World War II. She served in this position from 1941 to 1946, and wa ...

MBE of the AWAS, at their Headquarters in Melbourne. Manning also served as Commanding Officer at the Australian Women's Services Officers' School, Darley, Victoria. This post combined the training of both the AWAS and the Australian Army Medical Women Service Officers. In 1946, Manning and three other Girl Guides went to Malaya to serve with the Guide International Service (GIS) to work on post war rehabilitation. In 1955, she became Chief Commissioner of the Girl Guides Association of Australia (1955–1962) and later a member of the World Committee of

World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS ) is a global association supporting the Girl Guides, female-oriented and female-only Guiding and Scouting organizations in 152 countries. It was established in 1928 in Parád, Hungary, ...

(1960–1969). Manning became Australian International Commissioner and was a driving force in the establishment of Sangam. Manning was awarded the Beaver (1938), Silver Fish (1954), O.B.E. (1959) for services as Chief Commissioner of the Girl Guides Association of Australia,

King George VI Coronation Medal The King George VI Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal, instituted to celebrate the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Issue This medal was awarded as a personal souvenir of King George VI's coronation. It was awarded to th ...

and the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal.

Eleanor Manning Training Fund

The Eleanor Manning Training Fund provides financial assistance to Australian Girl Guide trainers attending selected training events in the Asia-Pacific Region of WAGGGS. This reflects Manning's concern with the development of Guiding in this region.

References

External links

Eleanor Manning
at the Australian Women’s Archives Project {{DEFAULTSORT:Manning, Eleanor 1906 births 1986 deaths Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting Australian Officers of the Order of the British Empire Australian military officers Women in the Australian military Recipients of the Silver Fish Award 20th-century Australian women People educated at Frensham School