Page 26 - Luce 2018

Obituaries Obituaries

Ivy Roberts (Shaw 1949) Karen Lane (Roberts 1974) Mary Lugton (1942) Deirdre Robertson Farfor (Hyde 1952)
5 December 1929 – 6 May 2018 19 June1956 – 18 January 2014 8 September 1924 – 16 May 2018 28 September 1932 – 11 October 2017

Miss Lugton was one of the three
After spending a year at Mildura in Karen entered Janet Clarke Hall women Heads of Department Deirdre was the only child of Isla
1948, Ivy moved into Janet Clarke in 1974 as one of only two female (along with Miss Turnbull and Hyde, later Lady Hyde, and Rear
Hall in 1949 while studying science engineering students at the Miss Semmens) who really ran the Admiral George Francis Hyde, later
at the University of Melbourne. University of Melbourne. During Baillieu Library, in a time when Sir Admiral Hyde. She was born at
She thrived in the culture and her time at University Karen you had to be a man to hold the the family home ‘Wandarra’, Toorak
opportunities at JCH as part of a developed a passion for nature position of University Librarian. and was only five when her father
small cohort of women who were and the environment, which passed away.
trailblazers in their academic and would shape her personal and Miss Lugton was Reference
Deirdre’s education began at St
career pursuits, particularly in science. professional life. She studied hard during the week so that Librarian when I came to the Baillieu Library in 1974. Catherine’s in Toorak and continued as a boarder at
her weekends were free for outdoor adventures such as Under her guidance I checked catalogues from antiquarian
After University Ivy had her first job with the Department kayaking (in fibreglass kayaks she built herself) and cross- book dealers as she worked to build up the University Toorak College, Mt Eliza where she excelled both in the
of Health at the State Health Labs, and was seconded to country skiing as a member of the Melbourne University Libraries Research Collections, in particular the Baillieu’s classroom and also on the sports fields. In her final year
the Department of Agriculture during this time. As was Mountaineering Club, and formed life-long friendships. holdings of Private Presses. Thanks to Miss Lugton and she was a School Prefect and House Captain.
required at the time she had to give up her permanent Miss Turnbull, Melbourne University today has fine and After completing matriculation, De was accepted to study
employment in 1955 when she married her husband Karen was an avid learner, and after moving to Perth with complete holdings of many of the great Private Presses. Agricultural Science at the University of Melbourne and
Geoff, a fellow science student she met at University, but husband Chas she completed a Master of Engineering resided in Janet Clarke Hall during her time there. She
stayed on as a temporary employee until the birth of her Science at the University of Western Australia in Miss Lugton as Reference Librarian for the Baillieu was thrived at University and particularly loved College life.
first child. Ivy and Geoff later started their own chemistry 1990 while raising three young daughters. She later in charge of supporting the University’s research effort She excelled in snow skiing and swimming, also playing
consulting business in 1970. completed a Master of Leadership and Management at through its Library. She later became the University in the JCH tennis, hockey and baseball teams when time
Curtin University, and in 2000 was awarded the MLM Bibliographer, again supporting the University’s research
Ivy and Geoff had four daughters and as a young mother Scholarship for the best MLM student. effort, building on her wide contacts with academics and permitted around her academic pursuits.
of two Ivy completed a Diploma of Education from the University community. In addition to enjoying her sporting and academic studies,
Monash University in 1966. She then began a Masters Karen built a successful career in environmental De filled various positions within Janet Clark Hall, being
of Education, however she was unable to complete it as engineering and sustainability, which at the time was When I started working for her she presented a formidable Treasurer of the College Club and later as Senior Student
her family grew. While she never formally taught she did a small emerging field, and formed the Sustainability figure – immaculate, when professional women wore where she was the chief link between the Principal, tutors
work as a demonstrator in the labs at Monash and instilled Practitioners Association. Her work focused on water, beautifully tailored suits to work – with a very distinctive and students.
the value of education in her daughters who all achieved water resource management, and contaminated land, and slash of white hair amidst the normal colour. She was a
academic success at university, with daughter Karen and while working for the Centre for Water Research at UWA mannered, exacting perfectionist and she gave me the best De graduated with a Bachelor of Science and worked as
granddaughter Lucy also attending JCH. she worked on projects in Venice and Japan. training I could have received: check, check and check a Biochemist until meeting and marrying Keith Ronald
again. Farfor. After having three children, she returned to study
Ivy was an active member of the College community, Having followed in the footsteps of her own mother, Ivy and began a new career as a librarian and then later as
serving on the JCH Council as its Society representative, Roberts, Karen was proud to see her youngest daughter, I remember her with great fondness; she was a very kind a remedial teacher. She continued to be a passionate
chairing its Executive and Finance Committee, and Lucy Lane (2007), also become a JCH-er. mentor to a young staff member. sportswoman enjoying skiing, golf, tennis and swimming
serving as President of the Janet Clarke Hall Society. She as well as briefly playing bowls in later years. She
never ceased to enjoy College functions and the life-long In a time when many women had to choose whether to remained an active member of a number of sporting clubs
friendships she made at JCH. have a career or a family, Miss Lugton devoted her life to
her work, her University, and her belief in the importance until her death.
of knowledge and scholarship. De was also a keen adventurer and would-be ‘country
girl’ and thought nothing of packing the kids in the back
A tribute from Patricia Smyth, a Baillieu Library friend and
colleague. of an old Valiant station wagon and heading off to places
such as Bourke, Coober Pedy and Innamincka to name a
few. Well into her seventies, she and another adventurous
friend drove the Gibb River Road in De’s Subaru wagon.

Deirdre is survived by daughter Katie, sons Malcolm and
Tony, grandchildren Angus, Douglas and Gabrielle and her
beloved black labrador Nudge.

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