Quentin Bryce facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dame Quentin Bryce
AD, CVO, , FASSA
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Bryce in 2013
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| 25th Governor-General of Australia | |
| In office 5 September 2008 – 28 March 2014 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Kevin Rudd Julia Gillard Tony Abbott |
| Preceded by | Michael Jeffery |
| Succeeded by | Sir Peter Cosgrove |
| 24th Governor of Queensland | |
| In office 29 July 2003 – 29 July 2008 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Premier | Peter Beattie Anna Bligh |
| Preceded by | Peter Arnison |
| Succeeded by | Penelope Wensley |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Quentin Alice Louise Strachan
23 December 1942 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | University of Queensland |
Dame Quentin Alice Louise Bryce (born 23 December 1942) is an Australian academic and public servant. She made history as the 25th governor-general of Australia from 2008 to 2014. She was the first woman to hold this very important job. Before that, she was the 24th Governor of Queensland from 2003 to 2008.
Quentin Bryce was born in Brisbane, Queensland. She grew up in different country towns across Australia. She studied at the University of Queensland. There, she earned degrees in Arts and Law. She was one of the first women allowed to join the Queensland Bar, which means she could work as a lawyer.
In 1968, she became the first woman to teach at the law school where she had studied. Later, she joined the National Women's Advisory Council. She also held other important roles. These included director of the Queensland Women's Information Service and Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner. For her work, she received several honours, including being made a Companion of the Order of Australia.
In 2003, Bryce became the Governor of Queensland. Then, in 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced she would be the next Governor-General of Australia. This decision was mostly welcomed. On 5 September 2008, she officially started her role. She was the first woman to be Governor-General. She finished her term on 28 March 2014.
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Early Life and Education
Quentin Alice Louise Strachan was born in Brisbane in 1942. She was the second of four daughters. Her parents, Norman Walter Strachan and Edwina Naida Wetzel, lived in Ilfracombe. Quentin and her sisters were home-schooled for a while.
In 1949, her family moved to Launceston, Tasmania, for about a year. Then they returned to Queensland, settling in Belmont. While in Belmont, she attended Camp Hill State School. There, she first met her future husband, Michael Bryce. She was also a Brownie in Girl Guides Australia.
In 1956, Quentin Strachan started boarding school at Moreton Bay College in Wynnum, Brisbane. After high school, she went to the University of Queensland. She first studied social work and arts. In her third year, she switched to law. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1962 and her Bachelor of Laws in 1965. That same year, she became one of the first women allowed to join the Queensland Bar. However, she never worked as a professional lawyer.
Quentin Strachan married Michael Bryce on 12 December 1964. They had two daughters and three sons. Michael Bryce passed away on 15 January 2021.
Career Highlights
After living in London for a short time, Bryce came back to Australia. In 1968, she started working as a part-time tutor at the TC Beirne School of Law at the University of Queensland. This made her the first woman to be appointed to the law faculty. In 1969, she became a lecturer and taught there until 1983.
In 1978, the government created the National Women's Advisory Council. Bryce was appointed to this council and became its convener in 1982. In 1984, she became the first director of the Queensland Women's Information Service. She also worked as the Queensland director of the Australian Human Rights Commission (HREOC) in 1987.
From 1988 to 1993, Bryce served as the Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner. This was a very busy time, with many complaints handled each year. It was also a time of big changes for women's rights. Bryce helped guide these changes.
After this role, Bryce became the first chair and CEO of the National Childcare Accreditation Council. She worked there for three years. Then, from 1997 to 2003, she became the principal and CEO of The Women's College, University of Sydney at the University of Sydney. She saw this as a chance to use all her skills and help shape the future of students.
Bryce also held other important roles. She chaired the National Breast Cancer Advisory Council. She was also a member of the Australian Women's Cricket Board. She supported groups like the YWCA and the Australian Children's Television Foundation.
Governor of Queensland
In 2003, Elizabeth II, the Queen of Australia, appointed Bryce as Governor of Queensland. This was based on the suggestion of the Premier of Queensland, Peter Beattie. She was the second woman to hold this position.
Bryce's time as Governor had some challenges. There were some concerns raised about staff changes at Government House and the use of the house for private events. However, Premier Beattie defended her, saying she paid for private events herself. Many people still saw her as a respected leader. She spent a lot of time visiting regional and remote areas of Queensland.
In January 2008, it was announced that her five-year term would be extended. This was to include Queensland's 150th anniversary celebrations in 2009. However, this extension did not happen. She was appointed Governor-General instead. Penelope Wensley took over as Queensland Governor on 29 July 2008.
Governor-General of Australia
On 13 April 2008, it was announced that Queen Elizabeth II had approved Bryce's appointment as the next Governor-General of Australia. This was suggested by the Labor Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. Most people welcomed this decision. Leaders from different political parties supported her.
There was some minor opposition. Some people worried about past issues during her time as Governor of Queensland. Also, there were concerns when she decided to appoint a new Official Secretary. However, Prime Minister Rudd defended her right to make that choice.
Bryce was sworn in on 5 September 2008. Her term was extended in October 2012, to end in March 2014. During this time, she was the Patron of Girl Guides Australia.
In October 2013, Bill Shorten became the leader of the Labor Party. Bryce offered to resign to Prime Minister Tony Abbott. This was because her daughter, Chloe, is married to Shorten. She wanted to avoid any idea of unfairness. However, Abbott refused her resignation. He said she provided stability during a time of political change and praised her dedication to public service. She was succeeded by Sir Peter Cosgrove on 28 March 2014.
Philanthropy
Quentin Bryce is a main supporter of Girls from Oz. This charity helps girls in remote Australian communities get performing arts education. These girls might not have these chances otherwise.
Bryce has supported Girls from Oz since it started in 2007. She has given donations and visited places where the charity works, like Halls Creek and Bidyadanga. She has also hosted sleepovers for girls from Halls Creek at Admiralty House.
Bryce has also been a patron for both Girl Guides Queensland and Girl Guides Australia.
Honours and Awards
Quentin Bryce has received many honours for her service. These awards recognise her important contributions to Australia.
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Dame of the Order of Australia (AD) | 19 March 2014 |
| Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) | 30 April 2003 | |
| Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) | 26 January 1988 For service to the community, especially to women and children. |
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Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) | 26 October 2011 Awarded by Queen Elizabeth II during her visit. |
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Dame of Grace of The Most Venerable Order of The Hospital of St John of Jerusalem | November 2003 |
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Australian Sports Medal | 5 December 2000 For services to Women's Cricket. |
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Centenary Medal | 1 January 2001 For service to Australian society in business leadership. |
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Commemorative Medal for the 30th Anniversary of Vanuatu | 30 July 2010 |
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Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Crown | October 2010 Awarded by King George Tupou V of Tonga. |
Honorary Military Positions
- 2008–2014: Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps
Honorary Degrees
Quentin Bryce has also received special honorary degrees from many universities:
- Queensland:
- Griffith University (2003)
- James Cook University
- Queensland University of Technology (2004)
- University of Queensland (2006)
- New South Wales:
- Macquarie University (1998)
- Charles Sturt University (2002)
- University of Sydney (2010)
- University of Western Sydney (2012)
She is also a Life Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law. In 2010, she became an Honorary Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. In 2016, she received a Queensland Greats Awards.
