In this episode, we listen to Arts graduate Nancy Osborne, talk about what it was like to be an independent career woman in the twentieth century. We hear about her uni days, career in London during the 1930s and work as a WREN during World War II. 

Host - Dr Gabrielle Kemmis

Dulcie Barr voiced by Dr Vanessa Witton

Producer - Peter Adams

Producer - Professor Julia Horne

Interested to learn more? 

More on Nancy’s career in the UK before WWII: SYDNEY GRADUATE. (1935, July 11). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 14 (Women's Supplement). Retrieved September 7, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17178137

Brief history of the WRENS: https://ornc.org/our-history/royal-naval-college/the-wrens/ 

Longer history of the WRENS: https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/timeline/factfiles/nonflash/a6650048.shtml 

A promotional film for the WRENS held by the Australian War Memorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zzijXZlzT4 Visit the University of

Sydney Archives: https://usydarchives.recollectcms.com/

Listen to the full interview with Nancy: https://archives-search.sydney.edu.au/nodes/view/92146