NSW:Brigadier McCarthy recalls three decades of service

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NSW:Brigadier McCarthy recalls three decades of service

By Kelly Nicholls

SYDNEY, April 25 AAP - Too often their heroism is forgotten, but Perditta McCarthyis living testament to the dedication of Australia's army nurses.

Now 86, and the only Australian woman to hold the rank of brigadier, she has a simpleexplanation for why she remained in the Royal Australian Army Nursing Service for 31 years.

"There were still patients to be served," Brigadier McCarthy said today, after takingpart in Sydney's Anzac Day march.

Brigadier McCarthy joined the army in 1941, serving during World War II in Australiaand Papua New Guinea and later being posted to Japan and to war-torn Korea.

Life for a nurse in those regions was tough and resources were scarce, she recalled today.

"It was jolly hard work, with patients that we couldn't do anything about," she said.

"We did our best (to save lives) in trying situations."

She said she had witnessed many horrors, most disturbingly the emaciated prisoners of war.

"The ex-POWs were very upsetting, they were just skin and bone," she said.

Brigadier McCarthy was joined today by many of her nursing colleagues.

Niece Jane McCarthy said her aunt still shared a very special bond with the women sheserved with.

"There's a huge bond there, a huge amount of respect for each other," she said.

"I'm incredibly proud of her ... she's an inspiration."

In 1975, Brigadier McCarthy was appointed Honorary Colonel and Representative Colonelto the Army Nursing Corps Association.

She has also been awarded the Royal Red Cross medal by the Queen and an honorary fellowshipby the NSW College of Nursing.

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KEYWORD: ANZAC MCCARTHY