HALL OF FAME

Deidre Alison Brown OAM (1927 - 2015)

Teacher 1948 - 1986

Deidre Brown was a Science teacher and Head of the Science Department at Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School (IGGS) from 1948 until 1986. A native of Brisbane, Deidre Brown’s secondary education was as the New England Girls’ School in Armidale, NSW. She took her Science Degre at the University of Queensland, majoring in Chemistry.

IN her 39 years at IGGS, Deidre Brown saw significant changes in the approach to, and resources for, science teaching. On her arrival in 1948, science teacher were scarce and resources few. In the sixties, with greater emphasis on the teaching of sciences an the availability of Commonwealth Government funding, she was instrumental in the development of new science facilities at the School. A ‘state-of-the-art’ Demonstration Room and Physics and Chemistry laboratories were opened in 195 to the “New Block” and continued in service until the fire of 2005 destroyed this building.

Deidre Brown’s contributions to IGGS was not limited to teaching Science. She was active in setting up extra-curricular activities for students, was closely involved in wider school life and, as a Resident Mistress, played an important role in the lives of boarders.

In retirement, Deidre Brown continued to be vitally interested in IGGS: she followed the lives of former students and was an active member of the IGGS Old Girls Association. She maintained an interest in science and in her Alma Mater. Among other things, Deidre was the Honorary Secretary of the Alumni Friends of the University of Queensland and, for many years, was a volunteer explainer at the Science Centre at the Museum of Queensland.

The quality of Deidre’s teaching was recognised by her peers in 1986 when she received an Excellence in Teaching Award given by the Science Teachers’ Association of Queensland. Her services to the community particularly through the Alumni Association of the University of Queensland, were recognised in January 2009 with the award of Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).