Leonie Kramer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leonie Kramer
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| Born |
Leonie Judith Gibson
1 October 1924 |
| Died | 20 April 2016 (aged 91) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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| Alma mater | University of Melbourne University of Oxford |
| Spouse(s) | Harry Kramer (1952–1988, his death) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) | Alfred Gibson Gertrude Gibson |
Dame Leonie Judith Kramer (born 1 October 1924 – died 20 April 2016) was an important Australian academic, educator, and professor. She is remembered for being the first woman to achieve several big things in Australia.
She was the first female professor of English in Australia. She was also the first woman to lead the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), which is Australia's national TV and radio broadcaster. Later, she became the first female head, or Chancellor, of the University of Sydney. For her amazing work, she was given high honors like Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire and Companion of the Order of Australia.
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Early Life and Education
Leonie Gibson was born in Melbourne, Australia, on 1 October 1924. Her parents were Alfred and Gertrude Gibson.
She went to a school called Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne. After that, she started studying at the University of Melbourne in 1942. A university is a place where people go to study advanced subjects after high school. She lived at Janet Clarke Hall, which was a special place for women students at the university.
Leonie earned her first degree, a Bachelor of Arts, in 1945. She then went on to study at Oxford University in England. There, she earned her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in 1953. A PhD is a very high academic degree that shows someone is an expert in their field. While at Oxford, she also taught students at St Hugh's College, Oxford.
A Career of Firsts
Leonie Kramer began her teaching career in 1958. She started as a lecturer in English at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). She then became a senior lecturer and later an associate professor.
In 1968, she moved to the University of Sydney. There, she became the Professor of Australian Literature. This was a very important moment because she was the first woman in Australia to become a professor of English. She also spent some time as a visiting professor at Harvard University in the United States.
Leonie Kramer was very interested in the writings of an author named Henry Handel Richardson. She also edited a book called Oxford History of Australian Literature in 1981.
Leading Public Organizations
Leonie Kramer served on many important public groups throughout her career. She was the first woman to be appointed as the Chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) from 1982 to 1983. She had been a member of the ABC Board since 1977.
She also served on the council of the National Library of Australia, which is a very important library for the country. She was also involved with the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), which is a famous school for actors. She even served on the boards of large companies like Western Mining Corporation and ANZ Banking Group.
Awards and Recognition
Leonie Kramer received many awards for her contributions. In 1986, she received the first Britannica Award. This award recognized her efforts in sharing knowledge to help people.
She also received special honorary degrees from several universities. These included the University of Tasmania, the University of Melbourne, and the Australian National University.
In 1976, she was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. In 1982, she received an even higher honor, becoming a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. In 1993, she was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia. This was the highest civilian award in Australia at the time. It was given to her for her great service to Australian literature, education, and the community.
Chancellor of the University of Sydney
Leonie Kramer became the Deputy Chancellor of the University of Sydney in 1989. Then, from 1991 to 2001, she served as the Chancellor. This made her the first woman to hold this very important leadership position at the university.
During her time as Chancellor, she faced some challenges. In 1995, she led the judging panel for the Miles Franklin Award, a major Australian literary prize. Later, there was a controversy about the winning author.
In 2001, the university's governing body, called the senate, was considering removing her from her position. Leonie Kramer decided to retire just before this meeting took place.
Personal Life and Legacy
Leonie Kramer married Harry Kramer, a doctor from South Africa, in England in 1952. The couple moved to Australia in 1953 because Harry did not want to live in South Africa while apartheid was happening there. Apartheid was a system of unfair racial separation.
Leonie and Harry had two daughters, Hillary and Jocelyn. Harry Kramer passed away in 1988.
In 2011, as her health declined due to Alzheimer's disease, her daughters helped her move into full-time care. She passed away on 20 April 2016, at the age of 91.
Her memoir, a book about her life called Broomstick: Personal Reflections of Leonie Kramer, was published in 2012. Leonie Kramer's life showed how one person could make a huge difference in education and public life in Australia.
