September 19, 2019

A lifetime on campus

Lorraine Denny, Linda Deitch dedicate a combined 80 years to careers at UOW

For most, University is a transient place.

For Lorraine Denny and Linda Deitch, the University of Wollongong has been a second home, a place where they have lived out fulfilling careers spanning 40 years each.

At the 40 Years’ Service Dinner, held on Wednesday 18 September, hosted by Vice-Chancellor Paul Wellings CBE, Lorraine and Linda were honoured for their dedication to UOW.

They have fond memories of life on campus when the University was in its infancy.

Lorraine, who started out as a general library assistant, knew the majority of students who walked into the library.

Linda, who first worked as a Technical Officer in the Department of Biology, remembers the strong sense of familiarity among staff on campus.

40 Years of Service Award recipient Linda Deitch and her husband Alan Adolfsson on Wednesday night.

“When I first came to this university it was rather like a large high school,” Linda said.

“Everybody knew each other and it was not unusual for people to be mixing and socialising with people from science, engineering and arts faculties. It was a lot of fun.”

Linda has worked in eight different buildings across campus.

Her time at UOW has been interesting to say the least, from working with a variety of animals to assisting thousands of students in whole organism and molecular biological practical classes. In later years, Linda implemented the University’s biosafety program.

The past decade has been the most satisfying, working as the Technical Services Manager at the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute.

Linda prides herself on setting up the shared laboratory facilities.

“We get commended all the time about how well the labs operate from researchers all over the world,” Linda said.

“They say, ‘this is the best place we’ve ever worked at.’”

Lorraine’s journey at UOW has also involved a number of twists and turns.

40 Years of Service Award recipient Lorraine Denny and her husband Warren Denny on Wednesday night.

“Except for the last 10 years, I’ve had a new job every five years,” she said.

“I’ve never been bored with the work. I’ve enjoyed the diversity of work.”

Her career started in the library, where she worked while studying a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), and she ended up in Human Resources.

“Seeing people grow and develop is my passion,” Lorraine said.

“I like seeing people realise their potential and being able to nurture and support them in that.”

Lorraine introduced internal business coaching to the University, and more recently, with modest resources, ran an award-winning leadership program for senior academic women. Recognition from the Australian Institute of Development and Training award was special, but it has been even more heartening for Lorraine to see an increasing proportion of females filling senior academic positions.

She believes those who flourish at UOW have something in common; self-actualisation.

“Opportunities aren’t handed to you, you have to take advantage of what’s on offer,” Lorraine said.

“I feel fortunate that I have worked in an environment that has supported me to do this.”

Masthead caption: Dr Annette Wellings, Linda Deitch, Lorraine Denny and UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Wellings CBE at the celebration dinner on Wednesday night.