The selection panel of the Liz Hilton Fellowship for 2024/25 is pleased to announce that Ellie Crookes and Emma Darragh have been awarded the fellowship for their research project Women’s Mission to Women: Women’s Rights Advocacy in the Illawarra (1970-2025).
This project aims to uncover the neglected history of women’s advocacy movements in the Illawarra from the 1970s to the present day. The Fellows say: “using the ‘Women Illawarra’ archives as our base, this project seeks to shine a light on social and political movements (especially around domestic violence) helmed by Illawarra’s women over the last fifty years. We undertake this work to honour woman activists of Illawarra’s past and present, but also to delineate how the problems of the past continue in our present.”
This is an historical project, steered by literary scholar and historian Ellie Crookes, but it is also a creative one. Emma Darragh, award-winning writer and creative writing academic will use our research as inspiration for creative reflections. These creative outputs will give voice and bring life to these stories, some of which have been long-buried in the archive.
Applications for the 2024 Liz Hilton Memorial Fellowship were of an excellent standard and the projects proposed were all innovative and offered exciting potential for creating new knowledge out of the UOW archives. The exemplary quality made the assessment committee’s decision-making very difficult indeed.
Fellowship Background
Elisabeth Hilton (1939 - 2020) or Liz as she was affectionately known, made an extraordinary impact on the lives of many as a committed UOW staff member, passionate advocate, honorary Fellow, dedicated volunteer and donor.
She joined the University College in 1973 as a Lab Assistant to support the development of academic teaching skills, and went on to become the Head of International House Hall and the new Kooloobong residential complex. Liz’s passion about education and giving back to the community has had a remarkable impact in giving UOW a competitive advantage over other universities.
In 2000, after serving under three Vice-Chancellors, Liz retired from her official roles at the University. She was awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Special Award for Outstanding and Exceptional Achievement. In 2004, she was conferred a University Fellowship for her tireless advocacy and contribution to the University.
In an article published a few years after she received her Fellowship, Liz talked about why she had decided to leave a bequest to UOW in her Will.
“Even with a very modest estate it’s a treat to provide gifts for worthy causes. When I first made my Will, I thought about all the people who were important to me and then the causes that were important to me and where I could make an impact,” she said.
“UOW is one of my beneficiaries. I like the place and I know that even my small bequest to this big and diverse institution will make a difference.”
Liz Hilton’s Will Executor, Mr Roger Irving said her bequest will help make a difference at the University.
"Liz was truly a dynamic force; someone who was always ready to go to bat for what she believed in; and to help anyone in any way she could. Liz was energetic, interested and interesting – but more than that, she was involved and engaging, forceful, kind, and very funny,” Mr Irving said.
“She wanted to be a positive influence, for her life to make a difference and her bequest to Wollongong Uni has enabled her to do just that."
The fellowship is awarded biannually to students and staff of the University of Wollongong
For further information about the Liz Hilton Fellowship, please contact Margie Jantti, Director, Library Services: margie@uow.edu.au