January 28, 2015
Glenna bids farewell to V-C’s Unit
Returning to learning Italian and French are high on the agenda for Glenna Young who recently retired as an Executive Assistant at UOW.
An official farewell function was held for Glenna in the McKinnon Dining Room on 23 January.
Her last post was as Executive Assistant to Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor John Patterson (pictured below) who officially stepped down from his post on 31 December. Glenna served in various roles in the Vice-Chancellor’s Unit over the past 21 years.
Past and present members of the Executive together with a range of other staff and members of Glenna’s extended family attended her official retirement farewell.
Glenna told Campus News that after a hectic schedule at UOW she initially just wants to take time “to smell the flowers and spend time with my family as they have all finally returned from overseas to live in Australia”.
She said that she and her husband, Geoff, also plan to travel overseas so it’s back to learning Italian and French to help in their travels.
Glenna actually traces her links to UOW back to 1971 when the University was still part of the University of New South Wales. She worked as a Stenographer in the History/Arts Department with Professor Ross Duncan.
She left in 1975 to have her son Stuart – “no maternity leave in those days,” she quipped.
“I then had Sean and Taryn and decided not to return to work while my children were little.”
Most of Glenna’s working life has been spent in the Vice-Chancellor’s Unit with some sporadic work in other parts of the University.
She said by far the best thing about working at UOW was the staff.
“They are the best of people. I miss my daily interactions with them and particularly miss my friends in the V-C’s Unit. It is a special team that works so well together.”
UOW Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Wellings (pictured above), said Glenna had been an outstanding Executive Assistant throughout her 21 years of service.
“She gave invaluable assistance to many members of the Executive and, for the past 13 years, has managed the office of the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
“It is a pleasure to thank Glenna for all her work on behalf of the University and to wish her and her husband, Geoff, a happy and fulfilling retirement,” Professor Wellings said.