Patricia Selkirk (CONNELL) PhD

1960 - 1963

Scientist Terrestrial scientist Dr Patricia Selkirk was awarded the Australian Antarctic Medal in 2004. Patricia has been a member of 17 Antarctic expeditions since 1979, and has spent a total of 25 months in the harsh conditions of the Antarctic and sub Antarctic, particularly on Macquarie Island, the World Heritage listed site 1500 km south-east […]

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Lindsey Fairfield SMITH BSc, PhD

1958 - 1961

Astronomer et al Lindsey Smith studied initially at Sydney University and obtained her Doctorate of Philosophy from the Australian National University. She pursued a distinguished career in astronomy research with positions at Mount Stromlo Observatory, Canberra, the University of California, the University of Colorado, Goddard Space Flight Centre in Maryland, University of Liege and Max […]

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Jessie Mary Grey STREET, BA (08)

Feminist and Social Activist (1889-1970) JESSIE MARY GREY STREET, feminist and social activist, was born in 1889 at Ranchi, Chota Nagpur, India, daughter of Charles Alfred Gordon Lillingston and Mabel Harriet (Ogilvie). The family moved to Australia in 1896 to take up residence at Yulgibar, Clarence River NSW. Jessie was educated at Wycombe Abbey School, […]

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Dr Winifred Vere HOLE, MA Hon. PhD London

1941 - 1944

Sociologist and Author DR WINIFRED VERE HOLE was the only child of Ralph Vere Hole and Blanche Young, who had settled in the Coonamble district in the 1900s. For her first fourteen years, her formal education was from the Blackfriars Correspondence School. Vere had a passionate love of the outback, and was not terribly happy […]

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Hazel Claire WEEKES, M.B.E. BSc, DSc, MBBS

1922 - 1923

Medical Practitioner, Broadcaster on Anxiety Neuroses (1904-90) Dr. CLAIRE WEEKES came to College from Sydney Girls’ High School in 1922. She was awarded the Yaralla Scholarship and studied science. Her other gifts included a fine singing voice, considerable energy, and an outgoing personality which made her a popular member of the College community. She graduated […]

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Julie White (ALSTON) BA

1974 - 1976

Born and educated in Orange, NSW, Julie came to Sydney University and Women’s College in 1974, where she studied for an Arts degree. She later attended the National Institute of Social Work in London, undertaking advanced study in community development. Julie is currently Manager, Macquarie Bank Foundation. Macquarie has provided support to community programs for […]

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Lynn Wood MA MBA

1969

Recently reappointed to the Foreign Investment Review Board for a further 5 years, former student and College Council member Lynn Wood has lately attracted interest in the financial press for her “portfolio career.” Lynn’s work-and-life package encompasses a number of different jobs and clients, which gives her a high degree of variety and diversification. After […]

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Helen Oates (EVANS) BArch

1957-61

College friend Penny Cameron (WYNDHAM: 1957-59) remembers: Helen Evans came to Sydney University when she was sixteen, and went straight to the Women’s College. She was studying architecture. By their very nature architects must be polymaths, and so it was with Helen. She could turn her mind to most topics, and was highly articulate. In […]

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Betty Marks (McEWEN) OAM MBBS

1943-48

Betty Jean Harvard McEwen was born at Oatley, Sydney, the second of three children born to Dr Bruce and Bessie McEwen.  Betty was educated at Marsden Church of England Girls’ School at Bathurst.  After leaving school Betty took a job with the Commercial Bank of Sydney as a ledger keeper and in 1943 entered The […]

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Beverley RAPHAEL AM MB BS, MD, FRANZCP, FRCPsych, Hon MD, FASSA

1952-57

Beverley was born in Casino, New South Wales. She graduated from the local high school second in the state in physics and chemistry, and studied medicine at the University of Sydney, living at Women’s College for six years. Beverley worked as a general practitioner before becoming a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand […]

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Lucy Lind Lloyd (TAYLOR) B Ag Sc

1939-42

Lucy Lloyd was born Lucy Lind Taylor in Armidale in 1920, the second of three children. Her father, Carl, was a grazier and veteran of the First World War. Lucy boarded at New England Girls’ School (NEGS) before studying agricultural science at the University of Sydney. At Women’s College she was treasurer and secretary of […]

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Julia FEATHERSTONE BA Dip Ed M Urban and Regional Planning (Adelaide), Grad Dip Communications (UTS), M Fine Arts (UNSW)

1964-67

Julia Featherstone grew up in a beachside town of Woolgoolga, NSW. The fibro shack of her childhood was five hundred metres from the beach and fuelled her love of surfing. Her proudest moment was in 1963 at the age of sixteen when she came second in the first Australian Women’s Surfboard Riding Titles at Bondi. […]

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Suzanne McKENZIE MBBS, MMedSci (ClinEpid) GCULT FRACGP

1983-85

Suzanne attended Pymble Ladies College and in 1982 entered medical school at Sydney University, residing at Women’s College. She did her internship at Hornsby and Ryde hospitals, and residency in the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, Royal Hospital for Women and Sydney Hospital. Suzanne trained in General Practice and worked in Sydney and Melbourne before […]

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JOHN BEER BA MA PhD

Senior Tutor 1985-2003

John attended Eastwood Public School and Sydney Church of England Grammar School, and initially followed his father into accounting. As a young man he was a member of St Alban’s Anglican Church in Epping, and later at Christ Church St Laurence and St James’, King Street. He undertook his theological training at St John’s College, […]

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Rosalind HINDE BSc (Hons) PhD

1961-63

Marine biologist Professor Rosalind Hinde was the daughter of novelist, critic and writers’ advocate Barbara Tarlton Jefferis and well-known Australian film critic and ABC journalist, John Hinde. Rosalind was educated at Abbotsleigh School before entering the University of Sydney and Women’s College. She held Commonwealth Scholarships in addition to a number of college scholarships. Rosalind […]

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Helen Booth WILES MBBS, FRACP, CCH

1941-1946

Helen Wiles grew up in Sydney’s east and attended secondary school at Ascham in Edgecliff. She was a very bright student and topped her class every year. She achieved “Honours” in 10 subjects in the Intermediate. Although school dux in 1939, her father considered her too young as a 16 year old to go to […]

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Ingrid PEARSON

1992

Ingrid Pearson BMus (Hons), PhD, DipEd, LTCL, LMusA is Deputy Head of the Graduate School at the Royal College of Music (RCM), London. Born in Newcastle, Australia, Ingrid began her clarinet studies at Newcastle Conservatorium. Ingrid lived at Women’s College in 1992 and graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Music Honours […]

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Ann Felton (KENDALL)

1953 - 1956

After studying medicine at Sydney University, Ann Felton (KENDALL: 1953-56) was ‘discovered’ in 1958 and became one of the world’s top models, earning $1000 a week by 1960. Ann has had cause to revisit her modeling career this year with the publication of In Vogue Australia: 50 years of Australian Style. Her image appears multiple […]

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Jane Fitzgerald SPRING BEc LLB

1985 - 1987

In October 2008 Jane Fitzgerald Spring was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the University for her services to rowing. For nearly two decades Jane has been an icon, an inspiration and an example to the University community of how to meet and triumph over adversity and face disability with courage, determination and intelligence. Jane Spring […]

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Sally AULD

1990 - 1993

Banker, Cricketer In May 1999, Sally Auld was selected to represent the MCC in its first ever women’s fixture against a Surrey U21 side. As captain of the Oxford University Women’s Cricket Club in 2000, Sally enjoyed the honour of playing both for and against the MCC. A successful season culminated in a hard fought […]

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Her Excellency Prof. Marie BASHIR AC CVO

1950 - 1955

Governor of New South Wales From Senior Student to Governor of New South Wales “When the suggestion was made to me… to begin with I was absolutely spellbound and speechless. Thinking about it, it seemed to me to be symbolic about the way our country is advancing in a sophisticated manner, that it could consider […]

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Anne BOYD

1964 - 1965

Professor of Music, Composer ‘When in 1996 I was awarded the AM in the Order of Australia, undoubtedly a career highlight, I was especially touched that it was ‘for services to music as a composer and educator’. These activities are, for me, intertwined: as Professor of Music and Head of the Department of Music in […]

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Clare BURTON BA PhD

1961 - 1963

Anthropologist, expert on gender and race bias (1942-1998) DR CLARE BURTON, an international expert on gender and race bias, was one of Australia’s finest feminist intellectuals. She put her scholarship into action in senior public sector appointments in NSW, Queensland and Canberra. Clare graduated in Arts from the University of Sydney with First Class Honours in […]

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Sally Crossing (FLETCHER) BEc AM

1964 - 1965

Diagnosed and treated for breast cancer in 1995 and 2004, former Women’s College student and Council member Sally Crossing founded the Breast Cancer Action Group NSW in 1997. This group has 750 survivor members and provides a voice for people affected by breast cancer. Sally is also Chair of Cancer Voices NSW, a coalition of […]

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Jane DIPLOCK BA (Hons) LLB DipEd Dip IntLaw

1968 - 1977

After leaving the Women’s College in 1977 Jane worked as a policy maker and a lawyer and she was recently the first woman to be elected as the chairman of the International Organisation of Securities Commission. In this role Jane is responsible for strengthening confidence in New Zealand’s capital markets locally and overseas and for […]

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Ruth Lissant DOBSON OBE BA

1937 - 1939

Diplomat (1918-89) Ruth was educated at Malvern School, Mosman and at Frensham where her mother was housemistress. She was at the Women’s College from 1937-1939 and graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1940. After a short stint in various jobs including as temporary secretary to the Principal of the Women’s College in 1941, she embarked on […]

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Susie Flook BA LLB (BALDWIN)

1968 - 1971

Susie Flook is Group General Counsel for The Body Shop International plc, based in the UK with responsibility for all legal matters on a global basis. The Body Shop produces skin and hair care products and accessories, which are sold worldwide mainly through a franchise system. The company trades in 60 countries and has over […]

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Rosemary Foot (ASHTON) AO BA

1954 - 1956

Politician, Board Member, Investor Rosemary participated fully in University life while a student at the Women’s College. The varied friendships she formed in the mid-fifties broadened her outlook after a strict country upbringing and being a boarder at Frensham, Mittagong. In 1960, Rosemary married old Pauline, Robert Foot. After their divorce, Rosemary and their daughters, […]

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Joan FREEMAN

Nuclear Physicist JOAN FREEMAN, a great Australian, a nuclear physicist who helped unlock some of the secrets of the universe, died 18 March 1998. Her story is outlined in her autobiography, A Passion for Physics, an engaging story of a woman achieving against the odds. She might have grown up to be a ballet dancer, […]

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Grace JOHNSTON, Dip Massage, MBBS

1930 & 1941 - 1946

Medical Practitioner GRACE JOHNSTON was born in Sydney in 1906. Her father was Swedish, with Scottish connections and her mother was an Australian of English and Danish ancestry. As a child Grace learned to use tools in preference to playing with dolls, and so acquired skills which were to be of particular use in adult […]

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Pauline Lyle-Smith BA LLB

1964 - 1968

Pauline graduated with Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of Sydney and, after qualifying as a solicitor in NSW, practised law at Freehill, Hollingdale & Page (now Herbert, Smith Freehills) in Sydney for four years. She lived on campus at Women’s College for five years and then at International House […]

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Susan MacDONALD BArch MA

1981 - 1982

Susan Macdonald studied architecture at Sydney University and holds an MA in Conservation Studies from the University of York / ICCROM Rome. From 1988-98 Susan worked in the UK as a conservation architect, undertaking National Trust projects on buildings dating from 16th to 20th century, with highlights including Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge in Essex (c1500), […]

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Wendy MACHIN BA MComm

1977-78

In an eleven-year parliamentary career that commenced at the age of 27 and ended in 1996, Wendy Machin represented the mid north coast of NSW and held numerous senior positions, culminating in the role of Minister for Consumer Affairs and Assistant Minister for Roads and Transport. Prior to this, she was Deputy Speaker for four […]

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Jane Hamilton MATHEWS LLB., Syd., LL. (Hon.) Wollongong Uni.

1958 - 1959

Judge JANE HAMILTON MATHEWS came to College direct from boarding school at the age of 17. At that time there was only one law school in New South Wales and very few female law students. Jane undertook a straight law course and graduated in 1962. Having completed her articles she was admitted as a solicitor […]

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Judith WRIGHT McKINNEY

1935 - 1936

Poet and Writer JUDITH WRIGHT was described in a 1972 ABC broadcast by fellow poet, A.D. Hope, as ‘Australia’s leading conservationist’ and was one of Australia’s greatest lyricists. She drew richly for her poetry, literally and figuratively, on her ‘blood’s country’, her family’s pastoral property ‘Wallamumbi’ on the New England tablelands where she spent her […]

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Ann Moyal (HURLEY) AM BA

1943 - 1945

Ann Moyal has had an exhilarating life. A noted scholar of the history of Australian science and telecommunications, and a biographer, she began her career (after graduating in history with first class honours at Sydney University), as a personal research assistant to the famous British press lord, Lord Beaverbrook, joining him in the writing of […]

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Ellice Maud NOSWORTHY, BArch

1919 - 1922

Architect (1897-1972) ELLICE MAUD NOSWORTHY was born in 1897, the second of four daughters. Her father was a shipping company executive and her mother came from a family of notable academics. She studied high school at Redlands in Neutral Bay and at the University of Sydney to pursue an Arts degree in 1917. In 1919, […]

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Sally SAALFELD BA

1948 - 1950

Yachtsman (1929-98) SALLY SAALFELD enjoys the distinction of being the first woman to sail in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Sally was born in India where her father was in the British army. The family returned to Britain shortly after and Sally grew up in England until the outbreak of World War II. In […]

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