Our Founders
On 19 May 1892, nineteen women met to form The Sydney University Women’s Association (SUWA), the foundation of what would become Graduate Women NSW.
Two remarkable women led this movement.
Louisa MacDonald BA MA
Louisa MacDonald BA MA
(1858–1949)
- First President of SUWA (1892)
- First Principal of The Women’s College
- Advocate for women’s participation in university governance
- Linked to the Womanhood Suffrage League of NSW
Louisa was a classics scholar from University College London and a strong public advocate for women’s education and civic participation.
Jane Foss Russell BA MA
(1863–1937)
- Co-founder of SUWA
- First Tutor to Women Students at the University of Sydney
- Pioneer in science and mathematics education
- Leader in the National Council of Women NSW
Jane was one of the most brilliant early women graduates in Australia, distinguished in chemistry, physics and mathematics at a time when few women studied science.
She later became the second President of SUWA.
Jane Foss Russell BA MA
Life Members and Members Emeritae
2000
Ellen Mary KaneBCom MBA N’castle
( -2015)
Mary worked for the AMP Society and was a Fellow of the Australian Insurance Institute. She played an active part in all levels of Graduate women – with Hunter Valley Branch 1962-71 and River Branch 1971-2015, as NSW Treasurer 1973-82, 1990-2,2003-2006 and President 1985-8, and as national Treasurer 1994-97 and Registrar 1989-2000. Mary was delegate to nine IFUW conferences and on IFUW Finance Committee. She was made a Life member of AFUW NSW in 2000. She was also Australian Chairman and Treasurer and a member of the International membership Committee of the Virginia Gildersleeve Fund. Mary was active in Foresight Overseas Aid, UNICEF, the St Vincent de Paul Society and the Mary McKillop Museum.
2006
Dorothy Betty neé Worrall BA USyd Dip Lib OAM
( -2016)
Dorothy worked as librarian at the Public Library of NSW and the Sydney Water Board. She was active in all levels of Graduate Women – as member, President and CC rep for North Shore branch, as State president 1988-92, National President 1994-97, and loyal delegate and attendee at many IFUW conferences and member of their Status of Women Committee. She was made an AFUW NSW Life Member in 2006. In the wider community Dorothy served in executive roles in NCW NSW, Torch Bearers for Legacy, PLC Pymble Ex-Students Association, Dunmore Lang College MacqU, and the Vice-Chancellor’s committee USyd. She married John Betty in 1949.
2007
Dr Minna Shaw-Smith MB BS USyd M Public Health UNSW
( -2009)
Minna had a long career with the NSW Department of Health – at Ryde Child Health Centre assessing the health needs of handicapped children and advising on their school placement, as a Community Physician at Merrylands Health and Teaching Centre, and as Senior Community Physician in the Western Regional Office. She was also Drug and Alcohol Coordinator and Regional Paediatrician and Honorary Assistant Physician in the Mental Retardation Centre at the Children’s Hospital in Camperdown, Official Visitor to Psychiatric Hospitals and a medical member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. After retiring Minna transferred her energy to AFUW as President River branch and Inner West Branch, and as State Vice-President, Acting President and President 1993-95, as Membership Secretary and Settler and Trustee of the AFGW NSW Education Trust. She was made the first Member Emerita of AFGW NSW in 2007. She was active in the Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund and Women into Politics.
2010
Gaynor Reeves BA UNE MA N’ctle CertT
Gaynor taught languages in the NSW secondary schools system before joining the academic staff of Newcastle University in the Education Department, becoming director of the Language Laboratory and serving for a period as Sub Dean of the Faculty of Arts. She was active in the National English Language Teaching Accreditation Scheme, the Adult Migrant English Programme, and The Applied Linguistics Association of Australia. Gaynor has contributed greatly to AFGW at all levels. She was a founding members of the Hunter Valley branch, served on their committee in many roles, and represented them on the Central Committee. She was State President 1998-2001, Convener of Special Projects, National Fellowships Convener and assessor of AFUW Scholarships. Gaynor was made Member Emerita of AFGW NSW in 2010.
2019
Jane Baker MB BS AKC, FANZCA, FRCA, D(Obst)RCOG
Jane joined GW in New Zealand in 1990 and arriving in Sydney in 1993 transferred to AFUG NSW though as a very ‘sleeping’ member until retirement in 2003.From Acting Instructor at Stanford University to Clinical Senior Lecturer in the University of Sydney and married to a peripatetic academic she experienced the Universities of London, Stanford, Oxford, UQ, Otago, Nova Scotia, London Ontario, Melbourne and finally Sydney and because of amalgamations of medical schools in London is now an Imperial Alumnus.
She served time as President of Inner West Branch, of AFGW NSW, two terms as national president with 5 trips to GWI triennial meetings one to New Zealand and one to Fiji. She has been Chairman of the Education Trust since 2008 except for one year when the NSW President took her ex-officio position.
She was National President in 2019 when AFGW defederated but AGW survived with continuing organisations of Graduate Women in NSW, Queensland, Victoria and WA .
2019
'Tricia Blombery BA, BEd, GradDip App Psych, MLitt
Member GW-NSW 1994. Executive at all levels – branch (Inner West and City), GW NSW(treasurer over two six year terms, President, Treasurer Education Trust), AFGW ( 3 terms as secretary) and international (Member Finance committee2010-2016, elected Treasurer 2016) Five trips to GWI triennial meetings and travel to IFUW Finance committee meetings between 2010 and 2016, a turbulent period for IFUW
President of NSW 2020-23 and Treasurer Education Trust since 2006. Obtained Charity registration at ATO and Deductible Gift Status for Education Trust.
Worked or studied at 6 Universities and taught or worked as a Counsellor at all 4 levels of education.
NSW P&C Council, journal editor, rep Education Department boards.
2023
Tamra Palmer Member Emerita GW NSW Inc
‘A person who has demonstrated a commitment to promoting education for women and to the principles of GW-NSW may be invited to full membership by a vote of Central Committee. ‘
On 4 August 2023 Central Committee celebrated Tamra’s return from her European adventures and presented her with details of her Member Emerita status. No member could doubt her commitment to promoting education for women or to the principles of GW NSW. In her time with us from 2007 she fostered our scholarships system, prizes and University contacts efficiently and untiringly, ensuring continuation even through the obstructions of covid. Susan Coulson, Wendy Jessup, Joyce Kirk and Christine Jennett all had the challenging task as Scholarships Officer made easier by Tamra’s involvement and every Branch has benefited from her interest. I think we have also shared her joy as Laurence moved from primary schooler to Tasmanian cricketer and Riley from pre-schooler to a university semester in Milan!
As she has more time to spend on creative writing we shall miss her but we have now the promise of her continuing contact and join in sending best wishes for her future from us all.
2024
Merle Thompson OAM BA USyd 1966 DIP APP PSYCH UNSW
VOCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST, AUST PLANTS, DISABILITY ISSUES
Merle joined Graduate Women in 1967 She has been a member in Hunter, Blue Mountains (which she and her sister Lynne founded and in which she spent time in every office) and City branches. At NSW level she has served as Registrar, Newsletter Editor, and Education Convenor. Nationally she served as Treasurer, Registrar 2006-present, and Public Officer 2012-2026. Merle has represented Australia at three GWI conferences Istanbul, Cape Town and Geneva and at PGWNet in Fiji. Merle offered her enviable computer skills in producing name tags and place cards for the NSW Centenary luncheon, maintains an accurate register of members and is a reliable source on all matters of AFUW, AFGW, AGW and GW-NSW history. Before retirement Merle worked at executive level in TAFE management.