On her shoulders: The wild achievements and impact of female scholars

Edith Emily Dornwell, graduated in 1885 

Gather ‘round, because Edith was that girl, the kind who looked at the world saying, “You think I can’t? Watch me.” Born to an immigrant German horse trader (so, not exactly high society), she became the first woman to graduate from the University of Adelaide. And not just any degree — she snagged the first science degree earned by a woman in all of Australia. 

Now, keep in mind that back then, people were still debating whether women should even be in university. Meanwhile, Edith was out there collecting a degree and admirers like it was a sport. Professors and classmates backed her up, proving that brainpower isn’t exclusive to gender. 

So next time someone tries to tell you (or you tell yourself) that you can’t do something, just channel your inner Edith and make history anyway. 

Dr Helen Mayo, graduated 1902 

Alright, listen up — this is the story of Helen Mayo, and trust me, she was an absolute powerhouse. It’s the late 1800s and Helen’s at home with a tutor, probably bored out of her mind, when finally, she gets to go to the Advanced School for Girls in Adelaide. She studies physics, which, for a woman at the time, was like announcing, “I’m going to be a rocket scientist.” 

But then, plot twist — she decides to study medicine, and her dad’s like, “Nah you’re too young. Do arts instead.” So, she does arts for a while, but in 1898, she finally breaks into medicine, crushing it by winning scholarships and becomes the second women ever to graduate in medicine from The University of Adelaide. Second place? Still iconic. 

Helen spends the next few years collecting medical experience like it was Pokémon. Working with sick kids in London, diving into tropical medicine, and making time to do midwifery in Dublin and India.  

Moving back to Adelaide, she runs her own practice doing midwifery, vaccines, pediatrics, anesthetics — you name it, she handled it! She even found time to be awarded the first-ever M.D awarded to a woman by the university. Then in 1935, the government must have decided she’s terrifyingly efficient and gave her an O.B.E. because, honestly, what else could they do? Oh, and she also became the first woman university councillor in Australia and stayed on the University of Adelaide Council for the rest of her life.  

Today, the Helen Mayo north and south buildings on Frome Road at the North Terrace campus stand in her honor. There’s also Helen Mayo House at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital devoted to the important work of supporting parents with a mental illness. So, the next time you’re walking to class, spare a thought for Helen who would not have complained about a 9 AM lecture, she was way too busy changing medicine and running a university. 

Dame Roma Mitchell, graduated in 1932 

Roma wanted to be a lawyer from a young age — no surprise given her grandfather was a judge and her dad was a solicitor. She crushed it at Adelaide University, getting a scholarship and graduating as the top law student in 1932. But, of course, she wasn’t allowed to join the Law Students’ Society because she had the audacity to be a woman.  

Didn’t stop her! Roma went on to become Australia’s first female judge, first female Queen’s Counsel, and first female chancellor of The University of Adelaide. And because she was in the habit of collecting “firsts”, she also became the first female Governor of South Australia. They literally called her Roma the First — like royalty, but with a gavel.  

Today her legacy is everywhere. The University of Adelaide has the Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories and a scholarship in her name, because when you break every barrier in sight, they start naming buildings after you. 

Fay Gale, completed her PhD thesis in 1960 

In the 1970s Fay Gale was lighting the blaze for female trailblazers in academia and social justice. As the first graduate of Honours in Geography (another first, but you’re used to this by now), instead of making maps she mapped out research on the Stolen Generations, challenging policies and advocating for Aboriginal self-determination in her 1972 book Urban Aborigines. Then, because she wasn’t done making history, she became the first female professor at The University of Adelaide and later Vice-Chancellor of the University of Western Australia. While most people were busy keeping things the same, she was out there making universities more equitable. Now, her legacy lives on in the Fay Gale Centre for Research on Gender at The University of Adelaide.

Julia Gillard, enrolled from 1979 to 1981 

Let’s talk about Julia Gillard, a law student, political powerhouse and all-round boss. Back in 1979 she rolled up to the University of Adelaide to study Law and Arts, but she wasn’t just there to hit the books, not Julia. She got into student politics fast, becoming President of the Adelaide University Union and landing a spot on the University Council. Because, obviously, being a student wasn’t enough — she had to run the place too. 

Then, she takes it up a notch by finishing her degree in Melbourne and continues to climb the political ladder. By 1998 she’s in Parliament, by 2007, she’s Deputy Prime Minister and juggling several ministries like an overachiever in a group project. Then in 2010, she becomes Australia’s first female Prime Minister, worrying less about fitting into glass slippers and more about shattering glass ceilings. 

These days, she’s back at the University of Adelaide as a visiting Honorary Professor, dropping us knowledge in an annual lecture. So, if you ever find yourself dozing off in a class remember, Julia studies in those same lecture halls — and then she ran the country.

Rebecca Richards, graduated 2011 

At just 23, Rebecca, an Adnyamathanha and Barngarla woman from the Riverland, had achieved what many only dream of. She completed her Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Anthropology at The University of Adelaide while juggling three cadetships at the National Museum in Canberra all before becoming Australia’s first Indigenous Rhodes Scholar — a history maker.  

Rebecca also wins awards like it’s her side hustle. In 2011, she was named the Channel 9 Young Achiever of the Year for South Australia and took home the Office for Youth Aboriginal Achievement Award. 

In 2013, she completed a Master in Philosophy in Anthropology at the University of Oxford, showing us all how she’s way ahead of the game. More recently, Rebecca returned to the Riverland where she’s been helping communities to explore and preserve the history and culture of the Ngarrindjeri people. 

Rebecca isn’t just out here achieving things. She’s out here setting the stage for everyone coming after her. 

Onnie Chan, completed her Masters in 2023 

Onnie Chan — artist, entrepreneur, tech wizard, and someone getting way more done before lunch than I do in a week. 

In 2023, she became the University of Adelaide’s Chief Student Entrepreneur at ThincLab, which is basically like being crowned the leader of innovation on campus. And because redefining go-getter wasn’t enough, she completed her Masters in Immersive Media Technologies. But Adelaide is a bus stop in her journey, having studied internationally, including Yale, Onnie was blending art and tech before it was cool. 

Onnie found her people at Adelaide, where creativity and technology go hand in hand, and now she’s out there mastering virtual reality like a digital sorcerer. 

Oh, and she made a pact with a friend to start her own company by 28. And guess what, she’s actually doing it! Now she’s leading the Women in Creative Technologies Club with plans to turn it into a business inspiring young girls to pursue their dreams. So, if you ever feel you’re off track, remember Onnie, walking the same road paved by generations of incredible women scholars, but making it her own.