Queensland Art Gallery director Doug Hall will be presented with an honorary Doctor of Philosophy at a 4pm graduation ceremony at The University of Queensland today (Tuesday, December 21).
Mr Hall will also be guest speaker at the Mayne Hall ceremony, addressing graduates of the Faculty of Arts.
Mr Hall has been director of the gallery since 1987. During this time, he has established it as the leading state gallery in Australia by developing the art collection and revitalising the exhibition program, resulting in record crowds. Under his leadership, the gallery has developed cultural links with the Asia-Pacific Region, which has led to the internationally-regarded Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art.
Graduates of interest include the following.
o Popular morning announcer on 4AAA Murri radio Rhianna Patrick (telephone 0412 388 797) will graduate Bachelor of Arts. Ms Patrick, a Torres Strait Islander
who spent her early years in the mining town of Weipa, completed a double major in journalism focusing on broadcast news.
Ms Patrick completed the last two years of her degree while working 35 hours a week at 4AAA, where she can be heard as far afield as Papua New Guinea, Tasmania, Cape York and Western Australia.
Ms Patrick single-handedly fills the breakfast shift, beginning at 4am, and is on-air from 6am. She is also a rugby reporter for the station's sports show. "Radio for me is ever-changing and exciting. The people you meet, the interviews in the field - I love doing that," she said.
o Valedictorian Julie Connolly and sister Katie (telephone 07 3365 3393 or 0419 792 523) have both balanced their studies with full-time work and extensive involvement in the UQ Student Union.
Julie majored in government and completed her honours studies part-time while working in the Faculty of Arts. In 1995 she was elected Education Vice-President and served on the Academic Board and the Education Committee, then in 1997 she chaired the UQ Union Council (the Union's peak decision-making body).
Katie, who majored in media studies and English while working in the Dean of Students' Office, was elected Council Chairperson in 1999. In 1998 she was UQ Union Secretary and served on the Academic Board, the Disciplinary Board and several committees and working parties.
Her Union involvement began in 1997 with her election as Welfare Vice-President. "Julie and I have both had quite strong political beliefs and beliefs in the importance of unionism and collectivism, so our involvement was inevitable," Katie said.
"It is helpful that we are both involved in the Union. A lot of issues you face in the Union are pretty complex to deal with, and it's good to have another person to bounce ideas around with so you know you're making the right decisions."
Katie was also elected to The University of Queensland Senate in 1998 and has just completed her first of three years in office as a student senator.
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