Academic named Ipswich 150 Ambassador

Dr Marie Kavanagh, Ipswich 150 Ambassador

Associate Professor Marie Kavanagh, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Business at USQ Springfield campus couldn’t be prouder to be named an Ipswich 150 Ambassador on the city’s 150th birthday.

Dr Kavanagh has lived in Ipswich since 1970 and said the honour was really just making ‘official’ what she had already been doing for years.

'I love Ipswich and have raised my two daughters in Karalee, which is a fantastic community in which to raise a family,' she said.

'Over the years I have campaigned to build the Karalee State School, the school pool and the school hall.

'The school will celebrate their 25th birthday this year and I am on the committee for organising the celebrations.

'I was also on the initial steering community to have a university built in Ipswich.

'We now have two universities in the city, which is testament to how far we have come in the 40 years I have lived here.'

Active in the sporting community Dr Kavanagh was also instrumental in the beginning of the Karalee Netball Club in 1985.

'The club went on to become the largest club in Ipswich and is still going strong. I am looking forward to helping them celebrate their success this year as part of my role as Ambassador.'

Dr Kavanagh said one of the best things about Ipswich was its down to earth, friendly people.

'I can’t walk down the street without meeting someone I know. The people are so friendly and go out of their way to help each other out.

'There have been many changes in Ipswich since I moved here and I have to say most of them are for the best.'

Dr Kavanagh was formally recognised as an Ipswich 150 Ambassador along with others chosen from throughout the community at a celebrations broadcast live to all of Australia on Channel Nine’s TODAY show today (3 March).

She has two daughters and five grandchildren and is looking forward to one of her daughters moving back to Karalee soon to raise her own family in the suburb.

Contact Details:
Jo-Ann Sparrow, USQ Media, +61 7 3470 4119 or 0438 309 096