[5] This appointment was mainly made on the basis of her family background and guiding experience, and Irving later acknowledged that she had "no qualifications at all" for the position.

[6] She was promoted to lieutenant colonel in January 1942,[1] and successfully established a framework into which 24,000 female soldiers eventually enlisted.

She could be abrupt, decisive and self-assured in the public arena in a way women were not expected – or trained to be in those days, and this stood her in good stead".

She also supported the Australian Government's policy that members of the AWAS not operate weapons, arguing that "these girls will be the mothers of the children who will rebuild Australia.

[1] At the end of the war, she encouraged AWAS members to undertake further training to find jobs in the civilian labour force, but only a small proportion of servicewomen did so.

[1] After returning to Australia Irving worked as a consultant for the Victorian Old People's Welfare Council organising elderly citizens' clubs until she retired in 1971.

She died on 28 March 1973 at her home in South Yarra and was buried with full military honours at Fawkner cemetery.