Carolyn Anderson wants to help the community to gain maximum benefit from the UQ Ipswich campus, opening for its first student intake in February 1999.
Mrs Anderson, a prominent professional woman in the Ipswich region and principal of Ipswich Girls' Grammar School, recently became inaugural chair of the Friends of UQ Ipswich.
The Friends is a new group that aims to provide a valuable link between the University of Queensland, Ipswich and the community. The group unites a diversity of people from Ipswich and the West Moreton areas in pursuit of a common goal - to support and advance the ultra-modern university on their doorstep.
Mrs Anderson said Ipswich already had a very strong educational reputation, with two grammar schools, the Bremer TAFE, and an abundance of high quality Catholic, independent and State schools in the region. Most parents assumed their children would undertake further study. Many of the State's top scholars and University medallists were born in Ipswich and surrounding regions.
The strength of interest in education is evident in the school she has headed for the past five years. Ninety-eight percent of students at the 960-student Ipswich Girls' Grammar continue to tertiary education. Of these, 85 percent choose University study. Other examples of the quest to extend the boundaries of knowledge include the development of the Global Arts Link and Global Info-Links projects in the Ipswich region.
"These are very exciting developments," Mrs Anderson said.
"Ipswich's economic base has changed from mining and woollen mills and the city is positioning itself well for the new knowledge industries of the 21st century.
"We have encouraged the University to become part of the Ipswich community and we now need to establish the benefits and friendships that can come from this close linkage. We need to encourage the idea that the University and the community are working in close partnership."
Mrs Anderson sees the new campus and the community as resources of mutual advantage.
"The graduate entry bachelor of education to be offered at UQ Ipswich from next year is a prime example of such mutual benefit," she said.
"The University will offer most of the courses at UQ Ipswich, while teaching placements will be made within the Ipswich area, presenting an opportunity for students to complete their practicum in the region. Local schools will have the opportunity to assist the University in its teaching and research programs."
Other types of beneficial relationships included access to expert University speakers for community meetings; regular briefings on campus activities by senior University staff; further education opportunities for mature-aged students; and work experience placements in information technology and other subjects. The Friends of UQ Ipswich will encourage community use of University facilities, and for the community to reciprocate for University use of community resources.
Social activities will also play an important role. The first of these planned by the Friends of UQ Ipswich is a Sunday morning brunch and campus site preview on November 1 close to the campus at the Ipswich Showgrounds.
Mrs Anderson said executive committee members of the Friends of UQ Ipswich represented the Ipswich City Council, the University, and local and community groups. They include: medical practitioner Dr Hugh Bartholomeusz, Ipswich City Council project officer Ms Pamela Payne, and University of Queensland Ipswich campus manager Warren Kerswill.
She said the Friends of UQ Ipswich aimed to ensure that community members were informed about the development and activities of the University on the Ipswich campus. Membership is free to individuals and community groups, and corporate membership ($25 per year) is available to organisations in the Ipswich region.
Mrs Anderson was appointed principal of Ipswich Girls' Grammar School in 1994. Before this appointment, she had administrative and teaching experience in the independent, Catholic and state teaching sectors.
Born in Brisbane, she completed her secondary and tertiary education in Victoria, graduating bachelor of commerce (1967) and diploma of education (1968) from the University of Melbourne. She has since been awarded a graduate diploma in educational administration from Deakin University.
Mrs Anderson is vice-chair of the Queensland chapter of the Australian College of Education and chair of the Ipswich and West Moreton regional group. An active member of the Australian Council of Educational Administration, Mrs Anderson is interested in advancing the status of women and is a member of the West Moreton branch of ZONTA International.
People wishing to join the Friends of UQ Ipswich can contact Mr Kerswill (telephone 073365 8225, email:w.kerswill@mailbox.uq.edu.au)
Media: For further information, contact Mrs Anderson, telephone 07 3281 4300, email: C.Anderson@iggs.qld.edu.au
