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1980s

Key date

1989: Celebration of the College’s 75th Anniversary and introduction of Honorary Fellowships.

Explore This Decade

  • 1980Library

    The library as it was in the 1980s until renovations were carried out in 2011. Later, in 2020, the Library was converted into the Study Hub.

  • 1983Residency acceptance letter

    Submitted by Nadine Garraway (alumna 1984 – 1986)

     

    While going through some old paperwork, alumna Nadine Garraway came across the Women’s College acceptance letter she received in 1983. Complete with the original envelope in which the letter was sent, this document provides a snapshot of the College’s history. The letter is signed by Jacqueline Bell, who was the College Principal from 1974 – 1984.

     

    Nadine graduated from The University of Queensland in 1989 and worked in hospitals in rural Queensland and England before gaining her formal General Practice qualifications in 1995.

  • 1984Helen McBride

    Helen McBride was the College Principal from 1984 to 1990. She described her underlying philosophy as being that the College should be a good, comfortable home, where students would learn for themselves and respect social mores that were appropriate to adult life.

  • 1985State of Origin

    Submitted by Nikki Parkinson (alumna 1985)

     

    The following story was first published by alumna Nikki Parkinson on her Instagram page.

     

    “The year was 1985.

     

    I was just 18 (but looked 13), new to the big smoke, studying at UQ, living at The Women’s College and hoping and praying for my dastardly perm to grow out.

     

    Someone at College suggested we head to Lang Park and watch QLD vs NSW. Our college sweatshirts provided the supporter colours and we just rocked up to the gate to buy tickets to watch from The Cauldron’s cement terraces. They must have been cheap, or we wouldn’t have gone.

     

    Surrounded by Winnie Red smokers, XXXX-drinking hardcore fans and good friends (my mate Clare pictured here included), I was immediately hooked by the atmosphere and action on the field. Quote of the night coming from one fellow spectator: “Are there any men there (at your College)?”

     

    That first-night fever has been there every State of Origin season since … I knew seeing and giving a nod to King Wally Lewis on Tuesday on my morning walk that takes in Suncorp Stadium was a good omen for a series win.

     

    QUEENSLANDER!”

     

    Pictured: Nikki Parkinson (1985) and Clare McKay (1985 – 1987).

  • 1986Presentation of Jacqueline Bell's Portrait

    Jacqueline Bell was the College Principal from 1974 to 1984. Pictured are (left to right) President of the Old Collegians Lana Hadgraft (née Yakimoff), Chair of Council Ruth Whitmore and Principal Helen McBride at the presentation of Jacqueline Bell’s portrait, in 1986.

  • 1989First Fellows of Women's

    The Fellowship program at Women’s was created in celebration of the College’s 75th anniversary. The first Fellows of the College were (pictured from left to right) Suzanne Mourot, Lisbeth Hopkins (née Liddell), May Hancock, Tess Cramond (née O’Rourke-Brophy) and Jan Delpratt.

     

    An Honorary Fellowship is the highest recognition that the College can bestow, honouring women and men of eminence and high achievement in the community, in particular past students and staff of the College. 

  • 1989Computers at College

    Women’s was the first University of Queensland college to introduce computer facilities, which took place in the late 1980s.

  • 1989Women's College in the news

    This article about The Women’s College celebrating its 75th Anniversary is from Sun Magazine (Sunday Sun newspaper), published on June 25 1989.

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