Auburn all-stars: The Melody Girls
After World War Two, two women were given a van and told to win “the west” for God. Thus began the enduring friendship and partnership of Brigadiers Florence Whittaker and Ruth Smith.
Two women from different parts of Australia were destined to serve the Lord together for 56 years. Though from different states – Florence Whittaker from North Sydney, NSW, and Ruth Smith from Melbourne, Victoria – they were both taught about the love of God through The Salvation Army from a tender age. They both loved music and would both use their God-given talents to bring many to know our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Florence (Flo) Whittaker, born 18 November 1917, entered the Australia Eastern Territory Training College in 1938 as a member of the Enthusiasts Session. After college she served as corps officer at a number of corps before being appointed to the Australian Women’s Army Service (AWAS) as a Military Welfare Officer during World War Two. Captain Flo was a listening ear for the girls and would play popular music over the loudspeaker of her car. She would not preach to the girls but would be there when she was needed.
Ruth Smith, born 16 December 1918, moved to the Eastern Territory with her mother after the sudden promotion to glory of her 
father when she was 15. She entered the training college in 1942 as a member of the Steadfast Session. Her first appointment was to Ayr, Queensland, and then, after other corps in Queensland and NSW, she was appointed as secretary at the training college in Sydney.
In 1946 the two young captains were appointed to the Western Region of NSW (Condobolin), in charge of an Evangelical Unit, Field Unit 1. These Mobile Field Units operated in rural NSW (including the Snowy Mountains) and Queensland in the 1940s and 1950s. During these years they experienced floods, droughts, dust-storms and bogs as they travelled thousands of miles – conducting meetings in shearing sheds, hotels and isolated schools. Field Unit 1 was also connected to the Flying Doctor Service by means of a two-way radio.
The following article is an extract from an interview with the Brigadiers, recorded by Arna Bradley in 1995 specifically regarding the work of Brigadier Flo in World War Two. They both took the opportunity to reminisce about their Field Unit work in outback NSW:
Interviewer: So you were thrown together, you were just appointed?
Flo Whittaker: Just appointed – because the Army, see, women officers having the same equality with men, and you’re sent – you’re 
just sent to your position. We were sent to the outback. Ruth was at the training college and I was in the military and it had come to the end, so they just appointed [us] with this van, and we just went – we were four years in the outback, way back of Bourke, just going – just seeing everyone. Now, you see what the military experience taught me, because I was able to mix with people.
Ruth Smith: Well, the mere way of survival was self-preservation as well.
FW: That’s right, and you had to – well, we had to have a mechanical course because we had to change all our tyres. [A] PIX photographer came with us and wrote an article about [us] and spent the whole day, just sat in with us and travelled where we went. Very interesting. And they printed a big article in PIX.
Interviewer: That’s brilliant.
FW: Isn’t that a lovely picture? The real picture is excellent.
Interviewer: You don’t have that original?
FW: Yes, it’s here, it’s sort of – that’s right out past the back of Bourke, it was.
RS: That’s between Bourke and Cobar.
FW: These were taken on the spot with us.
RS: He spent a week with us.
Interviewer: It’s just as well you two got along, I mean four years?
FW: Oh, it’s, really, you had to or else. We’re very – both – very strong-willed. It was difficult, but we weathered the storm. My experience in the military really did something to help me.
Interviewer: Well, they obviously deliberately chose the both of you for certain qualities.
FW: It’s been proved now, we did four years.
RS: We were asked.
FW: That’s feeding because we went out in a drought and you see we were both city girls, we didn’t know anything about drought, 
how they fed the sheep from the tops of the trees, so you just had to go out with the men. That was our first blow-out and we had it while he was there. He was with us and it was a real ...
Interviewer: Is that him?
FW: No that’s me.
Interviewer: That’s you. It looks like pants, are you wearing pants?
FW: Yes, we did.
RS: Yes, we had overalls.
FW: There’s the blow-out we had, see?
RS: One of those fellows, Reg Harvey, he gave us a crash course in [repairs] ... yes, six weeks.
FW: That’s how we camped and we had beds for outside.
Interviewer: How did you get on with them [the Aboriginals]?
FW: Well, our music was a great introduction. Now, we were attached to the Flying Docs [Doctors], that’s the two-way radio at the back.
RS: We’re the only ones who ever sung – played and sung, we used to sing lots of duets, but we don’t anymore.
Interviewer: So music is a great means of communication?
RS: Wonderful.
FW: It’s really been useful to us personally, and it’s opened doors to us even in our retirement. But music got us into homes, as it did in the military, it got us into hearts, because everybody loves music.
RS: Everybody communicates singing and playing.
Interviewer: It’s amazing, you both look so feminine, it’s amazing.
FW: Life’s been very exciting.
End extract.
In 1949 Flo and Ruth were transferred to Field Unit 3 (which was based in Bega, NSW), and continued their touring duties for another 12 months.
After this very significant segment of their lives they continued to serve together in many corps including Ashfield, Dee Why, Manly, Earlwood, Albion (where they were pleased to tell all that Eva Burrows was one of their girls), Fairfield and Auburn. During this time Senior-Captain Flo attended the International College for Officers in London in 1953.
An appointment to the Divisional Headquarters of North Queensland prepared them for their 14 years attached to Territorial Headquarters.
For Brigadier Ruth these 14 years found her diverse skills being utilised in the ministry of Home League. During these years she travelled extensively throughout the territory, including Papua New Guinea.
Brigadier Flo was entrusted with the development of the League of Mercy as a separate department. During this period, the NSW Governor, Sir Roden Cutler, made Brigadier Flo a Member of the British Empire (MBE) (Civil) for services to the community.
They both retired from active service in 1979, but continued to share their love of the Lord throughout the territory and beyond for many years after retirement.
Brigadier Flo Whittaker was promoted to glory on 23 September 2002 at the age of 84. Brigadier Ruth Smith was promoted to glory on 25 July 2005 at the age of 86.
These dynamic women have touched the heart of all those who have had the privilege of meeting and knowing them. Their entertaining personalities, musical talents and spiritual understanding will be a lasting legacy. These two pioneers were truly citizens of Heaven here on Earth.