Complex sentence: Dowling was also the Australian Red Cross Society's Canberra chairman from 1962 to 1967; at the time he took over the chairmanship, Lady Dowling was acting president of the organisation, in the absence of Lady William Oliver.
Split into simpler sentences: Dowling was also the Australian Red Cross Society's Canberra chairman from 1962 to 1967. At the time he took over the chairmanship, Lady Dowling was acting president of the organisation, in the absence of Lady William Oliver.