8 March 2023
International Women's Day
A long-serving sailor appreciates how things have changed for women in the Navy.
At 14, Chief Petty Officer Elaine Egan saw a glossy Navy brochure lying near a playground. Thanks to that chance sighting and her father’s fond memories of his time in the Royal Navy, her choice of career was clear.
More than 40 years on, and with a Federation Star to honour her service, Chief Petty Officer Egan is working in logistics at Victoria Barracks, Melbourne, and is very proud of her Navy Service.
“I have always been proud to serve and wear the uniform. I like being part of the ADF family and doing jobs the civilian world doesn’t do,” she said.
Some of the most rewarding moments have come from working on relief teams, helping people in distress from fires, floods or COVID-19 and seeing the gratitude on their faces.
“When others are running from disasters, we are running towards them to see how we can help,” she said.
Having enlisted as a medic, Chief Petty Officer Egan transferred to become the first female “storbie” (Stores Naval) at the apprentice base HMAS Nirimba. She was one of only seven women on the base.
“In the early days, women had to work twice as hard to prove themselves,” she said, referring to the “boys’ club” that had no patience for women who needed to work around families.
“Since women’s numbers have increased and they go to sea, they have blended into the Navy family. The younger men don’t know any different and it doesn’t bother them,” she said.
“Increases in leave to care for sick children have helped and flexibility in the workplace has been a great help.”
Chief Petty Officer Egan, whose husband and two daughters have served in the Navy, while her son is in the Air Force, is pleased to see women have become a large part of the Navy workforce and believes they “can do anything”.
“Women are in charge of ships and bases. They have proven they can do the job well and it is only a matter of time before we have a female Chief of Navy,” she said.
