Liz Hilton Memorial Fellowship

In celebration of Liz Hilton's contribution to the University of Wollongong, we have established the Liz Hilton Fellowship.

If you require further information please contact uow-archives@uow.edu.au

2023-2024 Fellows

The selection panel of the Liz Hilton Fellowship for 2024/25 is pleased to announce that Ellie Crookes and Emma Darragh have been awarded the fellowship for their research project Women’s Mission to Women: Women’s Rights Advocacy in the Illawarra (1970-2025).

This project aims to uncover the neglected history of women’s advocacy movements in the Illawarra from the 1970s to the present day. "Using the ‘Women Illawarra’ archives as our base, this project seeks to shine a light on social and political movements (especially around domestic violence) helmed by Illawarra’s women over the last fifty years. We undertake this work to honour woman activists of Illawarra’s past and present, but also to delineate how the problems of the past continue in our present". 

This is an historical project, steered by literary scholar and historian Ellie Crookes, but it is also a creative one. Emma Darragh, award-winning writer and creative writing academic will use our research as inspiration for creative reflections. These creative outputs will give voice and bring life to these stories, some of which have been long-buried in the archive.

Applications for the 2024 Liz Hilton Memorial Fellowship were of an excellent standard and the projects proposed were all innovative and offered exciting potential for creating new knowledge out of the UOW archives. The exemplary quality made the assessment committee’s decision-making very difficult indeed.

2023-2024 Conservation Programme

During 2023 funds were used to complete the digitisation and preservation of the audio tapes of interviews by Tom Zubrycki for his 1984 documentary "Kemira - Diary of a strike" which covered the battle by Kemira colliery workers to try and stop BHP shutting the mine down. These original interviews were deposited with the archives in the early 2000s and this digitisation was an essential part of ensuring the longevity of the original content. The digital files are currently being processed and will be available to researchers and the public soon.

Further details of Tom Zubrycki's work can be found at https://www.tomzubrycki.com/

2022-23 Fellow

We are excited to announce that Jen Saunders (PhD candidate) is the inaugural Liz Hilton Memorial Fellow.

Jen's research project: Cross-reading South Coast histories aims to extend understanding of the interconnectedness of local histories by cross-reading two UOW Archives collections—D217 Archibald Campbell and D92 Frank McCaffrey—through networks across landscape and time periods.

A copy of the catalogue of the Fellowship exhibition is available at Stories from Right Here

Fellowship Background

Elisabeth Hilton (1939 - 2020) or Liz as she was affectionately known, made an extraordinary impact on the lives of many as a committed UOW staff member, passionate advocate, honorary Fellow, dedicated volunteer and donor.

She joined the University College in 1973 as a Lab Assistant to support the development of academic teaching skills, and went on to become the Head of International House Hall and the new Kooloobong residential complex. Liz’s passion about education and giving back to the community has had a remarkable impact in giving UOW a competitive advantage over other universities.

In 2000, after serving under three Vice-Chancellors, Liz retired from her official roles at the University. She was awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Special Award for Outstanding and Exceptional Achievement. In 2004, she was conferred a University Fellowship for her tireless advocacy and contribution to the University.

In an article published a few years after she received her Fellowship, Liz talked about why she had decided to leave a bequest to UOW in her Will.

“Even with a very modest estate it’s a treat to provide gifts for worthy causes. When I first made my Will, I thought about all the people who were important to me and then the causes that were important to me and where I could make an impact,” she said.

“UOW is one of my beneficiaries. I like the place and I know that even my small bequest to this big and diverse institution will make a difference.”

Liz Hilton’s Will Executor, Mr Roger Irving said her bequest will help make a difference at the University.

"Liz was truly a dynamic force; someone who was always ready to go to bat for what she believed in; and to help anyone in any way she could. Liz was energetic, interested and interesting – but more than that, she was involved and engaging, forceful, kind, and very funny,” Mr Irving said.

“She wanted to be a positive influence, for her life to make a difference and her bequest to Wollongong Uni has enabled her to do just that."

Liz Hilton Fellowship:

As per Liz’s wishes, UOW will use part of the bequest to establish the Liz Hilton Fellowship, which will provide financial support to researchers undertaking work on or about collections housed in the UOW Archives. A total of $200,000 will be invested to fund the Fellowship, valued at $7,000. The UOW Archives will benefit through associations formed through the management and awarding of the Fellowship, through showcasing UOW Archives collections as a result of original research or other outcomes through the use of the material and through the promotion and publicity surrounding the bequest.

UOW Archives Manager, Grant White welcomed the bequest that will support worthy causes at the University.

“Liz was a great friend of the Archives and placed great importance in celebrating and preserving the rich history of the University and its staff and students,” Mr White said.

“Through Liz’s generosity we will advance the preservation of unique materials and collections as well as foster research to explore and contextualise the heritage of the University and the broader Illawarra.”

Conservation and Acquisition Fund:

The bequest will also be used to establish a fund for the acquisition and conservation of significant items relevant to the University or the local area.

Every second year, the alternate year to the Fellowship, up to $12,000 will be set aside for conservation work of items from the Archives in need of preservation, or to be used to acquire items as they become available.  The outcomes of these activities will be promoted through Archives Online, the UOW archives digital exploration tool, and through the local media.