Suffrage 125: Four generations of University women

Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, Dame Charmian O'Connor, in accepting her Queen’s Birthday Honour this year, acknowledged and expressed gratitude to “all the generations of women who have worked so tirelessly to create opportunities for women in education”.

In particular, she honours the memory of her mother, Kathrene Maude McQuillan, who graduated in 1927 with a BA in English from Victoria University College and always trusted her daughter to follow her own path.

But what becomes very clear when talking to Dame Charmian’s daughter Kate and her granddaughter Indigo, is that Charmian has earned the same debt of gratitude for herself.

A leading researcher and educator, Charmian spent more than 50 years teaching and mentoring students in what was then the Department of Chemistry (now School) at the University during a highly-distinguished career in which she has achieved any number of firsts, including first female and youngest recipient of a Doctor of Science in New Zealand and first person appointed to an equity role at the University (as Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor, Equal Opportunities and Staff Development).

It was very early in her academic career, while teaching students not much younger than herself, that she discovered a passionate desire to see others do well, particularly those who were struggling.

“I realised I loved teaching because it meant helping people. That has been a very large and rewarding part of my life.”

Charmian's daughter Kate, whose first qualifications were related to her interest in horticulture – including a Certificate in Grape-Growing and Wine-Making and a Certificate in Small Farming – went on to complete an MA in Philosophy at the University of Auckland. Now she has achieved a life that comfortably aligns with her interests and values. While living with her partner on a 15-acre, sustainable and spray-free lifestyle block (with “lots of farm animals, free-range chickens and five acres of covenanted bush”) she also serves as executive manager of the Ethics Committee at AUT and chair of the Northern B Health and Disability Ethics Committee.

Indigo Poppelwell, Kate’s daughter, is a current Elam student who is focusing on domesticated crafts for her Bachelor of Fine Arts.

“Historically, domestic crafts have been used to keep women’s imagination in acceptable spheres, but I want to use the same crafts to set women’s imagination free,” says Indigo.

“As an only child, I always had plenty of encouragement from my mother and my grandmother. There was no doubt I would always have every opportunity for education.”

By Tess Redgrave