Armidale community stalwart, former UNE staff member and long-time supporter of the old Armidale Teachers’ College (ATC), Gwenda Shannon OAM, passed away in Newcastle last week.

Gwenda’s UNE career of 33 years saw her providing high level administrative support to the University Registrar, Tom Lamble and University Secretary, David Williams. She had a plethora of memories of her time working in Booloominbah and remained close friends with many of her colleagues.

In 2003, Gwenda was awarded an OAM for services to the Armidale community. She volunteered at a number of organisations including working as a warden at St Mary’s Anglican Church, she was a member of St Peter’s Cathedral Council, an archivist for the Zonta Club of Armidale for more than ten years, a volunteer and fundraiser for NERAM, and curator of the UNE Art Collection for a year.

In recent years, she led the Friends of the Old Teachers’ College (FOTC) as president, and worked tirelessly to collect and collate the history of the building as well as the staff and many students who gained their teaching qualifications there. Gwenda also assisted with the ANZAC Day service on campus as the FOTC group wanted to acknowledge the 68 ATC staff and ex-students who died in World War 2.

Gwenda’s memorial Service of Thanksgiving will be held at St Mary’s Anglican Church, Rusden Street, West Armidale on Monday, 30 April 2018, commencing at 10.30 am

Image courtesy of The Armidale Express: Gus Plater, Gwenda Shannon and Rod Davies at the opening of the room named in her honour at the former Armidale Teachers’ College (Express article and photo)