Leonie Kramer
Encyclopedia
Dame Leonie Judith Kramer, AC
, DBE
(born 1 October 1924) is an Australia
n academic, educator and professor.
, the University of Melbourne
, where she gained a Bachelor of Arts in 1945, and Oxford University
, where she gained a Doctor of Philosophy in 1953. During her postgraduate years at Oxford she tutored at St Hugh's College
.
(UNSW). She remained at UNSW until 1968, when she was appointed Professor of Australian Literature at the University of Sydney
, the first female Professor of English in Australia. She was Visiting Professor at Harvard University
's Chair of Australian Literature Studies (1981-82). She is an Emeritus Professor of Australian Literature at the University of Sydney
.
A major focus of her critical writing has been the works of Henry Handel Richardson
. She also edited the Oxford History of Australian Literature (1981).
Dame Leonie Kramer has served on numerous public bodies during her long career. These include appointment to the Chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
(1982-83), having served as a member of the ABC Board since 1977, the Secondary Schools Board (1976-82), the Council of the National Library
(1975-81), NAATI
(1977-81) and the Universities Council (1977-86).
Other appointments include serving as a Senior Fellow of the Institute of Public Affairs
(1988-96), Commissioner of the NSW Electricity Commission
(1988-95) and Chairman of the Board of Directors of NIDA
(1987-92). She has also served on the boards of large corporations including Western Mining Corporation
and ANZ Banking Group.
During her time at the ABC Kramer came to be known as Servalan
after the autocratic character in the BBC
science fiction
series Blake's 7
.
In 1986 she received the Inaugural Britannica Award for the ‘dissemination of learning for the benefit of mankind’. Other awards include an honorary DLitt from the University of Tasmania
, and honorary LLDs from both the University of Melbourne and the Australian National University
.
She was appointed on Officer (OBE) of the Order of the British Empire
in 1976. In 1983, she was made a Dame Commander (DBE) of the order. The Queen honoured Dame Leonie again in 1990 by making her a Companion of the Order of Australia
.
Dame Leonie Kramer was Deputy Chancellor of the University of Sydney from 1989-91 and Chancellor from 1991-2001. At the request of the Parliament and a hostile University Senate, the Governor of New South Wales
empowered the Senate to dismiss the Chancellor of Sydney University in 2001. Dame Leonie retired moments before a controversial Senate meeting was to take place to dismiss her.
As of 2011, Dame Leonie Kramer is the current patron for United World Colleges
in Australia; an educational movement that aims to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, DBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 1 October 1924) is an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n academic, educator and professor.
Education
Kramer was educated at the Presbyterian Ladies' College, MelbournePresbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne
Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne , is an independent,private, Presbyterian, day and boarding school predominantly for girls, located in Burwood, an eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
, the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, where she gained a Bachelor of Arts in 1945, and Oxford University
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, where she gained a Doctor of Philosophy in 1953. During her postgraduate years at Oxford she tutored at St Hugh's College
St Hugh's College, Oxford
St Hugh's College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford. It is located on a fourteen and a half acre site on St Margaret's Road, to the North of the city centre. It was founded in 1886 as a women's college, and accepted its first male students in its centenary year in 1986...
.
Career
Kramer was appointed Lecturer in English in 1958, then Senior Lecture and finally Associate Professor in English at the University of New South WalesUniversity of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
(UNSW). She remained at UNSW until 1968, when she was appointed Professor of Australian Literature at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
, the first female Professor of English in Australia. She was Visiting Professor at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
's Chair of Australian Literature Studies (1981-82). She is an Emeritus Professor of Australian Literature at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
.
A major focus of her critical writing has been the works of Henry Handel Richardson
Henry Handel Richardson
Henry Handel Richardson, the pseudonym used by Ethel Florence Lindesay Richardson, was an Australian author. She took the name "Henry Handel" because at that time, many people did not take women's writing seriously, so she used a male name...
. She also edited the Oxford History of Australian Literature (1981).
Dame Leonie Kramer has served on numerous public bodies during her long career. These include appointment to the Chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
(1982-83), having served as a member of the ABC Board since 1977, the Secondary Schools Board (1976-82), the Council of the National Library
National Library of Australia
The National Library of Australia is the largest reference library of Australia, responsible under the terms of the National Library Act for "maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the...
(1975-81), NAATI
National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters
The National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd is the national standards and accreditation body for translators and interpreters in Australia. It is the only agency that issues accreditations for practitioners who wish to work in this profession in Australia...
(1977-81) and the Universities Council (1977-86).
Other appointments include serving as a Senior Fellow of the Institute of Public Affairs
Institute of Public Affairs
The Institute of Public Affairs is a public policy think tank based in Melbourne, Australia. It advocates free market economic policies such as privatisation and deregulation of state-owned enterprises, trade liberalisation and deregulated workplaces, climate change skepticism , and the...
(1988-96), Commissioner of the NSW Electricity Commission
Electricity Commission of New South Wales
The Electricity Commission of New South Wales, sometimes called Elcom, was a statutory body responsible for the generation of electricity and its bulk transmission throughout New South Wales, Australia...
(1988-95) and Chairman of the Board of Directors of NIDA
National Institute of Dramatic Art
The National Institute of Dramatic Art is an Australian national training institute for students of theatre, film, and television, based in the Sydney suburb of Kensington. It is supported by the federal Office for the Arts, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. NIDA is located adjacent...
(1987-92). She has also served on the boards of large corporations including Western Mining Corporation
WMC Resources
WMC Resources Limited was an Australian diversified mining and fertilizer company formerly listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. WMC was an acronym for Western Mining Corporation. It was delisted on 29 June 2005 following a successful takeover by BHP Billiton...
and ANZ Banking Group.
During her time at the ABC Kramer came to be known as Servalan
Servalan
Servalan is a fictional character in the BBC science fiction television series Blake's 7, played by Jacqueline Pearce . She was the principal villain of the series...
after the autocratic character in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
series Blake's 7
Blake's 7
Blake's 7 is a British science fiction television series produced by the BBC for its BBC1 channel. The series was created by Terry Nation, a prolific television writer and creator of the Daleks for the television series Doctor Who. Four series of Blake's 7 were produced and broadcast between 1978...
.
In 1986 she received the Inaugural Britannica Award for the ‘dissemination of learning for the benefit of mankind’. Other awards include an honorary DLitt from the University of Tasmania
University of Tasmania
The University of Tasmania is a medium-sized public Australian university based in Tasmania, Australia. Officially founded on 1 January 1890, it was the fourth university to be established in nineteenth-century Australia...
, and honorary LLDs from both the University of Melbourne and the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
.
She was appointed on Officer (OBE) of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1976. In 1983, she was made a Dame Commander (DBE) of the order. The Queen honoured Dame Leonie again in 1990 by making her a Companion of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
.
Dame Leonie Kramer was Deputy Chancellor of the University of Sydney from 1989-91 and Chancellor from 1991-2001. At the request of the Parliament and a hostile University Senate, the Governor of New South Wales
Governors of New South Wales
The Governor of New South Wales is the state viceregal representative of the Australian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who is equally shared with 15 other sovereign nations in a form of personal union, as well as with the eleven other jurisdictions of Australia, and resides predominantly in her...
empowered the Senate to dismiss the Chancellor of Sydney University in 2001. Dame Leonie retired moments before a controversial Senate meeting was to take place to dismiss her.
As of 2011, Dame Leonie Kramer is the current patron for United World Colleges
United World Colleges
UWC is an education movement comprising thirteen international schools and colleges, national committees in over 130 countries and a series of short educational programmes. The UWC movement aims to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future...
in Australia; an educational movement that aims to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.