ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵapp

When she first arrived as a shy 16-year-old, the campus was small enough that everyone knew everyone. 

“It probably would have been a quarter of the size it is now,” she recalls. “I think the library was the furthest building west.”  

UOW has been Kerrie’s first and only job. She had just finished a secretarial course when she spotted the ad in the Illawarra Mercury. The late professor and engineering ‘legend’ Dr Bob Wheway was a minister at Kerrie’s church and wrote her a reference.  

“I think that helped, but I can only hypothesize,” she says. However, in the end, it was the late former Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Mathematics, Dr Austin Keane, who interviewed and hired Kerrie.  

“At the time, because I was so young, the ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵapp HR weren’t keen on employing anybody younger than the students. He fought for me to get the job. He said, ‘Oh, well, if you get them young, they'll stay longer,’ and I think I've proved him right," she laughs.  

Behind the numbers 

For the next 50 years, Kerrie worked a range of administrative roles in mathematics. 

“We did everything. I organised the academics, did all their typing for them, all their research papers, their theses, typed all the exams. I actually typed a book one of the guys was writing. It was a very varied job.”  

Working with academics meant accuracy and precision were key, especially when dealing with mathematical equations. She became an expert in decoding scrawly handwriting and finding mistakes.  

“Their handwriting was horrible. You got to learn the way they wrote things. I could even work out if an equation was wrong. Say a bracket was left off, and I would correct a lot of them.”

“They were very impressed by that,” she says. 

Kerrie learnt to touch type in high school -  a skill rarely taught in today’s touchscreen world. She recalls classrooms lined with typewriters, her hands covered so she could memorise the keys by feel. The practice proved invaluable in her role, as did her skills in maths. It was her best subject in school.  

“Working in mathematics, you were typing lots of symbols and the Greek alphabet. That took your typing speed down because it was a slow process. We used to get an allowance if you typed faster, and Professor Keane put the argument in that because I was doing mathematical typing, it slowed my speed down,” she says. “I still got that allowance as if I was typing faster.”

Kerrie Gamble at UOW ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵapp campus.

Life at UOW  

Kerrie remembers the year she started working at UOW very clearly.

Gough Whitlam was Prime Minister, Love Will Keep Us Together topped the charts, Australia had just switched to colour television, and the ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵapp of ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵapp had just become an independent institution. She hadn’t even gotten her licence yet, so her parents used to drop her off to work.  

“Back then, we wore miniskirts and cork platform shoes,” she says. “Everyone knew the Vice-Chancellor. It was a nice place to be. Different from the outside world… well, I assume so. I haven’t worked in the outside world.” 

She’s witnessed a lot of change within the ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵapp over the years, but one thing has remained the same. She always worked in mathematics.  

“People in mathematics have always been nice. They are down to earth and genuine.”  

The ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵapp has been a constant through every stage of Kerrie’s life too. From getting her licence and first car to getting married and raising children. She’s watched her daughter graduate from several university degrees, some from UOW and others from different institutions. After attending many ceremonies over the years, Kerrie is confident that UOW puts on the best. 

“I’ve been to other universities’ graduations, and you’re just a number walking across the stage.” 

“UOW is more personal.”  

At this year’s 50th Anniversary Dinner and Awards, Kerrie was recognised for her own 50 years of service. It’s a milestone that feels bittersweet with the news that she will be retiring this year.  

“I’ve just enjoyed my work so much,” she says. “But I am looking forward to the next chapter. My husband is also retired, so we are going to do some travel and see the grandkids more.” Still, the thought of leaving feels strange. 

“This has been my life, but it will be good. I’ll come back to visit.” 

After 50 years in the same workplace, many people would wonder what keeps Kerrie fresh and motivated. For her, the answer is simple. 

“Just keep learning. If I was still typing on a typewriter, it wouldn’t be the same, but I’ve had to learn all these new programs. That helps keep it interesting and fresh.”