Army, which was established on 27 June 1942, these services were established during 1941. Figure 14: Recruitment poster for the Australian Women's Land Army; image courtesy of the Australian War Memorial. Anzac Day 48 The outbreak of war (and, after February 1942, the threat of invasion) had caused many male agricultural workers to enlist. The production of food and material for Australia and its allies remained crucial, however, and State-based women's 'land armies' were set up. In July 1942 the Minister for Labour and National Service approved the creation of a national Women's Land Army, which would recruit mostly city women to perform a range of agricultural work. Women already engaged in rural work were not eligible to join the AWLA. At its peak in late 1943 the AWLA consisted of more than 3000 members, both permanent and part-time. Since the end of the war there has been some controversy surrounding the lack of recognition of AWLA service, due to the fact that the AWLA was not constituted under national security regulations, and hence members did not receive the same benefits granted to the other three women's auxiliary services. Reportedly, a proposal to recognise AWLA as an official fourth military auxiliary service was supported by Cabinet in January 1943, but the legislation was never introduced into parliament. Former ALWA members have campaigned since the war for recognition, and have so far gained: ... the right to march on Anzac Day (1985) ... the right to join the RSL (1991) and