Mrs Hartcher, who lives at Coastal Waters Aged Care in Worrowing Heights, has been recognised for her services in the war effort.

She served in the Women's Australian Airforce (WAA) from 1942 to 1946.

Mrs Hartcher had just turned 18 when she joined the WAA and became a signals clerk.

"The Japanese were on the doorstep - it was necessary for some of us [women] to step up," Mrs Hartcher said.

Mrs Hartcher first trained in Robertson at Ranelagh House, which was a priate property the Airforce took over.

Once training was completed, Molly was transferred to Allied Headquarters in Brisbane. There were about thirty women working with her.

Mrs Hartcher recalls that General Douglas Macarthur and the Americans also used these Headquarters.

"We didn't see much of the men, we always had our own offices and they were often busy," she said.

After a short time, Mrs Hartcher was transferred to the Wire Telegraphy Section where she received coded messages.

In 1944, due to the death of her father, she transferred to Rathmines Airforce Base, NSW. The main aircraft there were "Catalinas" and she was impressed that they could land on water.

Despite the turmoil of war, Mrs Hartcher said for the most part it wasn't a frightening time.

"We just took it as it came, day by day," she said.

After the war she returned home and married. She met her future husband at the second dance she had ever atttended. He had recently returned from serving with the infantry in Papua New Guinea.

They had two children, Kim and Jimmy, and Mrs Hartcher now has five granddaughters, a great grandson and a great-great grandson.

Mrs Hartcher said she was surprsed and pleased to receive her medal for the 75^th anniversary of World War II, ahead of Rememberance Day on Wednseday, November 11.

"The award was unexpected - I think a lot of work went into it from the local Veterans Affairs and the Sussex Inlet RSL at Sussex so I have to thank them," she said.

"I was very pleased and happy and now I have to decide what to do with it. My son has his father's medals so I think my daugher should have mine. If she doesn't want them I'm sure someone else in the family will.

"I'm happy that people are interested but I want to know why me?"