Florence Violet McKenzie was born in the years which gave rise to the first wave of feminism, apt timing for a woman who, during her long life, distinguished herself in technical fields and opened doors for countless other women to join her.

But Florence Violet McKenzie's quiet and independent manner has meant that her remarkable story has slipped through the cracks of history. Apart from a couple of brief biographical references, the name Florence Violet McKenzie is hardly familiar in Australia. This program pays some overdue historical attention to a pioneer in technical education for women.

Florence Violet McKenzie OBE (nee Wallace), aka 'Mrs Mac' (1890-1982) was Australia's first female electrical engineer, first female amateur radio operator, and founder of the Electrical Association for Women. She is best known for her work during the Second World War. Having founded the Women's Emergency Signalling Corps in 1939, she campaigned successfully to have some of her female trainees accepted into the Royal Australian Navy, thereby originating the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service.

During the war some 12,000 servicemen passed through her Morse code training school, and after the war her school was a major civilian airline and nautical signal instructional centre. The armed forces and civilian airlines relied on her services right up to the mid-50s. Apart from her successful electrical contracting and wireless supplies business between 1918 and 1934, all her work was voluntary.

The producer thanks all those who participated in this program; special thanks to Caroline Baillie and Solange Kershaw.