Campus stalward bids farewell to Gatton

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Tags: Gatton, retirements, winter-2011

Long-serving retired Gatton staff member Roslyn Karrasch

Roslyn Karrasch is one of those rare people who can say with sincerity after 35 years working at the same place: “I’ve really loved my job and became and remain personal friends with all my bosses.”

Ms Karrasch recently retired from her position as Executive Assistant to the Executive Dean and Director of The University of Queensland’s Gatton campus.

During that time, she played an active role in helping the campus transition from the Queensland Agricultural College (QAC) to UQ’s second campus in 1990 and later, to the home of the University’s state-of-the-art animal research and teaching facilities and School of Veterinary Science in 2010.

The QAC opened in 1897 with just 23 students – a huge contrast to the organisation it has become today with 510 staff members and 1410 students including international scholars hailing from 36 different countries.

Ms Karrasch has played a central, administrative role in many of the changes affecting UQ Gatton over the years.

Being part of the typing pool in 1976 evolved into becoming a “Jill of all trades” with Ms Karrasch at one stage being responsible for organising travel for every academic at the campus.

Personal travel was not put on hold however, with Ms Karrasch managing to visit many countries including South Africa, Canada and Fiji. She said she hoped travel would be a large part of her retirement plans.

“People often ask me why I stayed so long and I say: ‘Well, I could have had 15 other jobs in that time but they wouldn’t have been half as interesting’,” she said.

By Shirley Glaister

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