Roslyn Karrasch, of Gatton, 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."
Roslyn 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, Roslyn has played an active role in helping the campus' transition from the Queensland Agricultural College to UQ's second campus in 1990 and later, to the home of UQ's state-of-the-art animal research and teaching facilities and UQ's Veterinary Science School in 2010.
The QAC opened in 1897 with just 23 students, a huge contrast to the organisation it has become today with its 510 staff members and 1410 students including 160 international students hailing from 36 different countries.
As Executive Assistant to the Director of the Campus and to the Executive Dean of the then Faculty of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science, Roslyn has played a central, administrative role in all of the changes affecting UQ Gatton over the years.
"I've enjoyed working with a number of different managers and seeing the campus go from strength to strength. I’ve enjoyed being at the hub of activity when strategic changes have taken place," she said.
She has come a long way from the 19-year-old who joined the QAC’s typing pool in 1976. Her family had moved to Gatton from Hervey Bay where Roslyn had been working as a legal secretary in nearby Maryborough and then for the Queensland Public Service in a variety of roles.
Being part of the "typing pool" evolved into becoming a "Jill of all trades" with Roslyn at one stage being responsible for organising travel for every academic at the college/campus.
"I had planned to work at the college for three years then go off travelling but decided to stay on because I was so happy in the job," she said.
Travel was not put on hold however with Roslyn still managing to visit many countries around the world including South Africa, Canada and Fiji.
She said she hoped travel would be a large part of her retirement plans as well as spending more time with family and friends and caring for her mother, now aged 83, who lives next door to her in Gatton.
"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.
Media: Shirley Glaister at UQ Communications (07 3365 2802).
