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Laurieton RSL vice president Joy Smith says a lot has changed over time for women who serve in wars.
Joy proudly wore her service medal on Anzac Day in Laurieton. The medal signifies her commitment as a nurse during the Korean War.
In those days, Joy said nurses weren’t allowed to have sick days, unless it was physically impossible to turn up to work.
“You had to go to work even if you were sick,” she said.
Joy joined in 1951 and her job was to vaccinate men before they went to the war and she cared for them when they returned home.
Soldiers used to ‘keel over’, Joy said before they got the needle.
Joy said they were more nervous about receiving the needle, than going to war.
“They went over to support their country,” she said.
Joy’s husband passed away nine years ago and she wore his medals on April 25, 2018, which he received for his service in World War II.
She said her husband was enlisted when he was only 18-years-old.
While she never knew him before the war, his family told Joy he was a changed man when he came back.
Joy said her husband never talked about his time in the war overseas.
“I’d only pick up little bits and pieces when he was talking to mates,” she said.
“Most of the men don’t talk about it.
“They talk about the good times but not about the nasty times.”