Blue working dress : Commandant M Hopper, 305 Mornington Voluntary Aid Detachment

Light blue cotton cesarine working dress with open neck, long sleeves, shoulder straps and self fabric belt. The dress is fastens from neck to hem with seven white metal Voluntary Aid Detachment Australia buttons made by K G Luke, Melbourne. A further two buttons, joined as cufflinks, hold the turned back cuffs in place. The shoulder straps are secured to the neck with white plastic buttons and bear a white metal 'VAD AUSTRALIA' on the left strap (missing on right strap), and silver lace rank stripes for commandant. A detachable white cotton collar is sewn inside the blue collar. The bodice is shaped by darts at the shoulder and front and back waist. An inverted pleat at the centre back allows for ease of movement. The shirt is constructed with two front panels and a single back panel, with inverted pleats at each side seam. A small white cotton duck watch pocket, embroidered with a red cross, is sewn on the left breast. There are two patch pockets over each front hip.

Mary Hopper joined the Mornington, Victoria branch of the Voluntary Aid Detachments (VADs), affiliated with the Red Cross, in 1930. The branch had been formed in 1928 with the aim of training women in first aid and home nursing so that they could offer assistance in a civil emergency. The VADs provided assistance in private homes, infant welfare centres and at Red Cross blood banks. During the Second World War Mary was appointed commandant at Mornington, known during the war as the 305 Mornington Detachment. Its members served at the Balcombe Military Hospital and at other smaller army hospitals in the area. Mary Hopper remained with the VADs post-war, working at the orthopaedic section of the Melbourne Children's Hospital, and offering help during the polio epidemic in the early 1950s.