Badge, International Federation of University Women, Norway, 1924

I.F.U.W badge (International Federation of University Women), made by David Anderson, in Kristiania (Oslo), Norway, for the 3rd I.F.U.W. Conference. 'On 11 July 1919, the IFUW was founded in London with founding members from three countries: Canada, Great Britain, and the United States. In addition to promoting peace, the advancement of careers for women in university formed a major objective for the organization.

IFUW created fellowships and promoted the founding of women's clubhouses where women could stay during research visits overseas. The IFUW was renamed Graduate Women International in April 2015.' The Australian Federation of Graduate Women's website has a logo based on this badge's design. The website describes the original badge :" the logo [was] designed by members of the Norwegian Federation for the Third IFUW Conference in Oslo in 1924 and adopted by delegates as the permanent badge of IFUW and its national associations. The original showed an antique lamp representing the light of learning on a blue background broken with the letters IFUW.

Around the central disc was an interlinked chain symbolizing the bonds of friendship linking IFUW members throughout the world. Eventually the lamp came to be known as the lamp of friendship. It was later modernized and the chain was dropped." The badge belonged to Yvonne Ethel Rentoul. Rentoul was born on 15 Nov 1908. She served in the Royal Australian Air Force in World War II, and was also awarded the Australian Service Medal (NU 18219]. Her service number was 350085. In Townsville the establishment of the RAAF Headquarters, North-Eastern Area, created an urgent need for teleprinter operators and general clerks. Around 20 airwomen were posted to the base between October 1941 and February 1942.

Section Officer Yvonne Rentoul was posted to Townsville as Officer-in-Charge of WAAAF in early 1942. She was responsible for the establishment of WAAAF Barracks at St Anne's School (its pupils had been evacuated inland) and also the administration of the WAAAF in Townsville. She oversaw the conduct and well-being of hundreds of airwomen among the thousands of servicemen, many of whom had recently returned from forward areas. She had to deal with tensions between Australian and American servicemen and between service personnel and the civilian population.

In April 1942, Rentoul conducted a course for WAAAF recruits from Townsville, aiming primarily to provide twelve drivers for senior American officers. Rentoul was discharged at the RAAF Headquarters on 2 Dec 1945. Round metal badge with pin on reverse. Obverse: Within silver chain on field of light blue enamel an oil lamp burning; above, I.F.U.W. Reverse: Punched, DAVID ANDERSON / KRISTIANIA. Edge: 350085 Y.E.RENTOUL.