Jim Fitzpatrick's 1944 series of photos of Drouin includes two of women from the Women's Land Army working at the Drouin Flax Mill.

In 1942 Australia's farmers were struggling. The countryside emptied as young men enlisted to fight in the war and there was severe drought.
In Victoria, Mrs Sewell who was CWA state president in 1940, submitted a blueprint for a Women's Land Army to fill the gaps. The first 200 girls were trained at the Berwick property owned by her and her husband Dr Sewell.
By 1942 150 women were actively working on farms in Victoria. That same year the Federal Government established its own Women's Land Army (despite plenty of scepticism) using Mrs Sewell's model.
Women were recruited from the city and the country to fill the gaps in the labour shortage with posters proclaiming, "Australia's farms urgently need YOU now!" Some basic training was provided, and women were sent to many places around the state including Drouin. Wearing the uniform of bib and brace overalls women took on what had been traditionally "a man's role."
Many of the Drouin based Land Army girls were employed separating linseed oil-bearing seeds from flax stalks at the Drouin mill as shown in this photo. Canvas and webbing were made from the stalks. It was dusty dirty work.
Hear more of the stories of the Women's Land Army on the story of the CWA, Drouin: a small town at war and several of the other stories on www.storiesofdrouin.com.au
Information courtesy Stories of Drouin, a cooperative oral history project between The Committee for Drouin, the Drouin History Group and 3BBR FM to preserve local stories.