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She’s been an advisor to Prime Ministers, princesses, and the UN, but Elizabeth Reid said one of her proudest achievements was winning the Tillyard Prize at ANU.
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Elizabeth Reid describes her student days as varied and vital. |
Ms Reid won the University’s most prestigious prize for undergraduates in 1965. She went on to be an advisor to Gough Whitlam and Iran’s Princess Ashraf Pahlavi on the status of women, as well taking on a number of leadership roles at the UN on women, HIV and other development issues.
Now a Visiting Fellow at the Gender Relations Centre at the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Ms Reid spoke at an event celebrating the Tillyard Prize held in the Chifley Library on 23 November. She said the prize’s focus on the community contributions of its recipients made it a great achievement.
“I still feel, even decades later, honoured to get that prize. It’s one of the most important I’ve ever received. It’s recognition that to be a human being is to do much more – it involves both argument and action.”
While completing a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) at ANU in the early 1960s, Ms Reid worked on the student newspaper, represented her peers on the student council and the University council, and took part in sports and debating. She said such activities were vital to her experience, and were not regarded as ‘extracurricular’.
“The times were very different then. I was brought up in a culture that valued debate, activism, and the quest for making things right, making a better world to live in.
“It was a time of great public debate – as legitimate to talk to a class as it was to talk to a group of trade unionists. We were continually creating a space that was vibrant in terms of social justice issues.”
Ms Reid was one of 12 former recipients of the Tillyard Prize gathered at the celebratory event this month, which reflected on the 66-year history of the award. Granted annually to an honours graduate who has made a valuable contribution to University life, the prize honours Dr Robin John Tillyard and Mrs Patricia Tillyard.
“The Tillyard Prize is an important part of the University’s heritage,” Professor Penny Oakes, Dean of Students and Chair of the University Awards Committee, said.
“Like Elizabeth Reid, many of the former winners have gone on to make crucial contributions to Australia and the world. It’s vital that we take the time to reflect on their achievements, and continue to celebrate those who follow in their footsteps.”
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