Judith Middlebrook
RGGS student 1960-1962
Upon leaving Girls Grammar after Junior, Judith worked as an accounting machinist at the Capricornia Regional Electricity Board. After work, she studied Theology at St Paul’s Cathedral and enrolled at the Rockhampton Technical College to complete her secondary school studies. She was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship.
Keen to teach in an Anglican Mission School in Papua New Guinea, Judith studied theology at the Sydney Missionary College. She trained as a teacher at the Australian School of Pacific Administration and taught English, Geography and Social Studies at the Holy Name Girls Secondary School at the Anglican Mission headquarters in Dogura, PNG. While there she enrolled at the University of Queensland as an external student.
In 1971 Judy left PNG to study history at the Australian National University. After completing an Honours degree in History, her first academic job was as Professor Manning Clark’s research assistant. She was one of the first Workers of Burgmann College workers, a tutor in history, Acting Deputy Master and Senior Tutor. She was co-patron (together with the Hon Peter Garrett) of the Burgmann Alumni Association and was awarded an Honorary Fellow of Burgmann College.
From 1989 to 2009, Judy was an officer of the Department of the House of Representatives and was Secretary of a number of Joint Committees including Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, the ACT and External Territories, Migration and Electoral Matters. She was also secretary of several House of Representatives Committees. She was seconded to the Inter Parliamentary Union in Geneva and served years as Serjeant-at-Arms and Director of the Chamber Research Office.
Judith was awarded a Public Service Medal for services to the House of Representatives, a Centenary Medal for services to Parliament and a medal from the ACT Government for her work with the first Canberra Melanoma Support Group.