WRAAF Parachute Packing Fid and Apron

Did Australia REALLY produce parachutes during WW2? I am fairly certain that they produced their own versions of Mae Wests, but parachutes? It is possible, but do we have any proof? I am however intrigued by the reference to "Roo Club" as marked on the "Fid", along with the two parachute "users clubs" associated with the well-known British manufacturers of chutes, Irving (Irvine) and GQ. Parachute manufacture was a very specialised industry, with only a very small number in the game, even now, although modern skydiving chutes are practically a separate industry from "traditional" manufacturers of emergency chutes (aren't they?) Australia was the only country in the world to manufacture RR Merlins in WW2 apart from four factories in UK and one in USA, so they had a hell of a lot more industrial muscle than little NZ; Canada, much more industrial than OZ at the time, did not attempt to manufacture even the smallest of aero engines during WW2 (no doubt due to proximity of USA and all its factories). Is it possible that "Dominion Parachutes" of Sydney acted as a civilian contractor to RAAF for cleaning and repair/modification of service parachutes, and leaving routine repacking to the WAAAFs and RAAF male packers?
David D

Thanks.

There's apparently even a book about the manufacture of the parachutes David, with pictures!

www.worldcat.org/title/light-aircraft-pty-ltd-manufacturers-of-dominion-parachutes/oclc/220423535?fbclid=IwAR1BeSXG2Wf8A-wMXOHBrmytG6oFLASjzDDv13DLO4FvpkCM-hfgnL4sJqA

I found this

www.flickr.com/photos/54522149@N02/17656412765

lists.rootsweb.com/hyperkitty/list/aus-sagen.rootsweb.com/thread/11074782/

"
[AUS-SAGEN] 'Roo Club'/Light Aircraft Pty Ltd/MILLS/FAUNCE
M Bennett
6/28/2001, 4:55:26 PM

I am looking for any members, descendants of members, or anyone with
information, of the Roo Club.

Admission to the club (which was formed in 1940) was only gained by making a
forced parachute jump during an aircraft emergency whilst using a Dominion
parachute. Members were presented with a gold kangaroo tie pin and a silver
plaque with the recipients rank, name and date of incident engraved on the
rear, and an a kangaroo with a parachute on the front.

Dominion parachutes were manufactured by Light Aircraft Pty. Ltd. at
Broadway in Sydney, and were supplied to the RAAF, and possibly other allied
air forces such as the RNZAF and RAF, during and after World War II.

The company was founded by my gg uncle, George Newnham MILLS (1885-1969) who
married Mabel de Laune FAUNCE (1891-1979).

I am also interested in hearing from anyone who worked for Light Aircraft
Pty. Ltd. prior to 1969, anyone who knew George MILLS or anyone who is
researching, or has a connection with, the FAUNCE family.

Regards,
Michael Bennett
Sydney, Australia

E-mail: b206(a)optushome.com.au
"

anzacportal.dva.gov.au/stories-service/australians-war-stories/four-airmen-bailed-out-over-simpson-desert-and-survived
"
Later the CO at Drysedale asked if he'd seen anything of a missing Spitfire while they were flying back to Australia. His rear gunner, Bruce Dixon, said he'd noticed something like a big cross on the sand spit of the first island they had crossed and a Walrus sea plane was sent out to search for the plane. The pilot, Flying Officer Gray, was found alive and was rescued.

"He was the luckiest man alive," Laurie said.

Laurie Coleman later received a letter from The Roo Club advising he was eligible for membership. The Roo Club was established by the Light Aircraft Pty Ltd, a Sydney company that made the Dominion Parachutes the men had used to bail out of the Beaufighter. The letter stated:

"You are the 83rd Member - the only class of membership is life, and the sole privilege, its continued enjoyment."

Laurie Coleman has done just that.
"