The University of Queensland

Thelma Atkin joined the staff of the University of Queensland in 1914, at the age of sixteen.

She went on to train several generations of secretarial staff, worked in some of the most sensitive and confidential areas of the University administration, and became well known to many of the University's most distinguished academic staff members as an utterly reliable confidante.

Other positions held by Thelma Atkin include Minutes Secretary to Senate and administrative positions in External Studies, Exams, Records, the Registrar's Office, Chancellor’s office and the University Committees.

Listen to a 1983 interview with Thelma conducted by Dr Elsie Harwood

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

In this interview conducted by Dr Elsie Harwood, Thelma shares memories such as how the students had to wear academic gowns to attend lectures (and how "now they dress as if they’re going to the seaside"); she describes humorous incidents and some of the "absent minded professors" she had to smarten up. Thelma Atkins and Elsie Harwood recall the early days at UQ's first site, Old Government House, and the beautiful setting of the hall there for student dances ("a romantic sort of time").

They also speak of Walter Wyche, UQ’s first Janitor and Mace bearer, who lived in a small apartment which used to be a stable (with hitching post outside) and how he was always available to "guard the morals and behaviour of the students".

Thelma Atkin retired from the University on 28 January 1958.