During the 1960s and 1970s, Joy Roggenkamp was a significant watercolourist in Brisbane and well-known nationally. Born in Queensland, she studied in Brisbane under Percy Hobday and Jon Molvig. She enjoyed great success at the Art Gallery of New South Wales where she was awarded the Trustees’ Watercolour Prize in 1962 and Pring Prizes in 1966 and 1967.
In 1969, The Women’s College purchased two paintings ("Dry Landscape" and "Two girls picking flowers") with funds from the Frances and George James Bequest. Frances and George James were the parents of Gwladys McKeon (née James) who resided at Women’s from 1915 to 1919. Earning her BSc in 1918 and a MSc in 1920, Gwladys was one of The University of Queensland’s first female graduates and among the first parasitologists in Queensland. At the age of 23 she was appointed scientist-in-charge of the Tick Biology Station, West Burleigh. After marrying in 1923 she lived in Woombye, Toowoomba and Point Vernon (Hervey Bay) where she studied seaweeds and marine invertebrates. This resulted in a lavishly illustrated handbook "Life on the Australian Seashore" (1966). Royalties from sales of the book were directed to The Women’s College. In addition to the two paintings, the bequest enabled the purchase of art books for the College. The two works were selected by Valerie McKeon (daughter of Gwladys) and E. Russell Cuppaidge, the then Chairman of Council. Valerie celebrated her mother’s life by donating a brick in the Alumnae Circle and donated a plate from "Life on the Australian Seashsore".
