2024 Mother & Daughter Dinner

Beverley Higgins (alumna 1962 – 1964)

Beverley grew up in Toowoomba and attended Fairholme College as a day student. On winning a Commonwealth Scholarship to UQ to study Science, Beverley became a resident of The Women’s College.

Following her graduation, Beverley took up a relief position as a science teacher at Somerville House. This was the beginning of a long career in education. Highlights from her career included teaching and setting up modern laboratories at Toowoomba Grammar School and The Glennie School as part of a Commonwealth scheme to improve science facilities, nine years as Deputy Principal at Fairholme College and three years as Head of Science at Downlands College.

Dr Cate Campbell (alumna 1986 – 1988)

Cate was the fourth generation of her family to attend Fairholme College and in her final year was Head Girl and Dux. After a year at Giggleswick School in North Yorkshire, she commenced studying Medicine at UQ in 1986. During her residency at Women’s, Cate was Cultural Convener and a Resident Assistant. After graduating with First Class Honours and the Prize for Surgery, she went on to specialise in Anatomical Pathology.

Since 2007, she has been a partner at Envoi Specialist Pathologists, an internationally recognised practice that specialises in gastrointestinal and liver pathology.

Dr Emily Gordon (alumna 1991 – 1993)

Emily was raised in Warwick and completed her secondary education as a boarder in Toowoomba at Fairholme College, where she was the Head Girl in 1990. She was then accepted into Medicine at UQ and spent her first three years of study in residence at The Women’s College and was the Student Club President in 1993. Following graduation, she trained in rural medicine and spent time working in Central West Queensland and for the RFDS.

In recent years she has been living and working on the Sunshine Coast. In 2020 she was awarded the RACGP Queensland GP of the Year for her service to General Practice and the community.

Alison Kubler (alumna 1991 – 1992)

During her residency at The Women’s College, Alison studied a Bachelor of Arts at UQ.

Alison has over 25 years’ experience as a curator in museums and galleries in Australia, and on public art commissions. She has worked as Arts Advisor to the Federal Minister for the Arts and Sports, held full-time curatorial positions at the QUT Art Museum and Gold Coast City Art Gallery, and worked as Associate Curator at the UQ Art Museum.

She is also the Editor of VAULT magazine, and a regular contributor to The Sunday Mail and other art magazines and journals.

At the Back to Women’s 110th Anniversary celebration in March, Alison led a tour of the College’s art collection, expertly unveiling masterpieces by some of Australia’s most iconic artists, all curated under her guidance.

Dr Margie Bale (alumna 1991 – 1994)

Margie is Australia’s only dedicated camel veterinarian.

With nearly 30 years’ experience as a clinical veterinarian, Margie now specialises in camelid medicine and is renowned as a world expert on camel health. She is recognised as the leading authority on camel veterinary medicine in Australia and is part of an international professional network of camel veterinarians and camel milk/meat scientists worldwide.

During 15 years as a large animal clinician at The University of Queensland’s Dayboro Clinic, she practiced in all aspects of herd health, reproduction and surgery of production animals.

Margie has worked in Dubai in a camel embryo transfer and reproduction clinic presenting at conferences worldwide and championing this emerging industry. Through an Agrifutures program she has validated a Blood Pregnancy test for camels that was an adaptation needed for the unique Australian Camel Industry. She has also teamed with Plasvacc to develop an Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) accredited frozen Camel Plasma product.