Page 6 - Luce 2014

L eadership Dinner

An interview with Gillian Triggs … continued from p. 5
Coming onto the JCH Council, during in the summer. I’d never had that values of the College were that it was
the time when I was an academic at opportunity in my life and it really all there to do if you put your energies
the law school meant that I was able to opened my eyes to the marvels of into it. I remember entering an essay
connect – I could come to the lectures being in the mountains. In fact, many competition, debating, being part of
and the various lunches. It was much years after that, my husband and I the College play, going to tutorials – all
easier for me to be involved in the bought some land up at Buller. So that of these were things I’d never had the
College life, once I was back at the club really did open up for me the opportunity to do before. They gave
University of Melbourne. I was always opportunity of being in the mountains. me confidence and introduced me to
very keen on the academic side of It is still something above all else I really the breadth of things that one could be
College work, because that was the love to do. These days, it is something interested in. I was the only girl in the
niche of the College. It very much my children love to do, and if I ever say, Trinity tutorials – I loved that! We had
matched with my own view of what ‘Let’s go to the ski lodge’, they’d also very high-calibre tutors who were at the
a College ought to be. It meant that join me. Bar who were themselves rising in the
over all those years, until I finally left profession.
Melbourne to become the President of The other thing I did was to immerse
the British Institute of International and myself in the exciting political Jack: You have often spoken of the need
Comparative Law in London, and then environment from ’64 – ’69, when I was for more courageous leadership. What
my role as president of the Australian at University. Those were the years are some of the things young people can
Human Rights Commission, I maintained with Vietnam and the building up to the do to show more courage?
aclose connection with JCH. Having election of Whitlam. It was the whole
now come back to Australia and Sydney, ‘60s revolution – not forgetting that the Gillian: You need to have self-
I have re-established connection with Beatles also came to town. Of course, confidence, and that is one of the things
Damian and the College. being in College, we did not go home College can give you. It is coupled with
at the weekends. Instead we attended the willingness to get the evidence right.
Jack: How do you think the culture of debates and film nights in the University It’s not just about being courageous on
JCH has changed since the 1960s? Union Building. I really enjoyed those anything that happens to enter into your
debates and took part in some of them mind, or something you happen to feel
Gillian: I had always loved the fact myself. We got involved in the very concerned about. You have to study
the JCH was a single-sex College and I active political life. I did enjoy that, but the issue, read the authorities, look at
initially felt that it was a negative thing I was very young so I mostly listened the facts and then make a reasonable
for the College to take in both sexes. I rather than playing a very active role. and evidence-based judgement. You
felt that with only a hundred students, combine that with a level of confidence.
it was a very special College in giving But things were transformed when I With those characteristics in place,
women an environment in which to was made Miss University. Although you can then take the risk of being
flourish. When we first became co-ed, this sort of pageant may be politically courageous.
I noticed, for example, that the student incorrect today, what it meant was I got
representative council started to be invited to the dinners and the receptions It’s also about ethics. It’s your
all men, whereas in my day, when I at the University. I would never have responsibility as a scholar in the
was a member of the student council been exposed to the social and political University context to make sure that
(secretary), I was very conscious of the environment with the leaders of the what you are doing is honest and done
fact that men couldn’t be on it because University (Professors, visiting scholars) in good faith. And it might be that you
they simply weren’t there. otherwise. It gave me a much wider start out with a prejudice when you
horizon. The University was then still look at an issue but the more you study
We now have the best of both worlds. very engaged with the Colombo plan, what people have to say, you realise you
We have come through that difficult and so I met a number of international might be wrong and you change your
period. It is now flourishing as a College students from Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia mind or you qualify your views. I think
that is open to everybody. It’s built its and Singapore. I’d never met people those are important characteristics, but
reputation not only on the academic from those countries before. Through I do find that in the end, it is important
environment but also on music and my role as a semi-ambassador for the to stand up firmly for your views, even
other activities. University, I met them and became though other people will try to demean
much more engaged in the region. This those views. If you are confident
Jack: What were some of the extra- experience encouraged my interest in about your evidence, it is easier to be
curricular activities you were engaged in international law, which became my courageous.
outside your studies? career.
Jack: What do you think are the
Gillian: I wasn’t a great club joiner. Jack: How did you feel JCH helped you challenges that young people face these
There was a lot in the law school itself achieve these things? days?
and in the life of Janet Clarke Hall. I
did, however, join the mountaineering Gillian: JCH broadened my horizons Gillian: There are definitely challenges
society. We used to go up to Mount enormously. I was meeting people in terms of finding work that they
Buller and ski in the winter or walk beyond my backgrounds. Also, the want, and getting access to experience.

6 LUCE Number 13 2014