Vale Dr Wendy Miller

On Saturday 20 April 2013, at age 37, Dr Wendy Miller (nee Elsworth /formerly Amosa) from our Faculty of Education and Arts lost her battle to cancer. She was an inspiring educator, loved and respected by her students and colleagues, an accomplished researcher, and a dear friend to many across the University.

Our Head of the School of Education, Professor Jenny Gore, gave the following tribute to farewell Wendy at her funeral. It speaks of Wendy's great sense of humour, her remarkable commitment to her work, her integrity in everything she did, and her love for her family - her two young girls, Luisa and Mya, and her husband Drew.

Wendy was absolutely passionate about quality teaching and when she was first diagnosed as terminally ill two years ago the School of Education established a prize in her name to recognise Excellence in the Master of Teaching degree. If you are interested in contributing, you can donate directly through:

Wendy Miller Memorial Account

BSB  -  112879

A/C  -  458027002

Wendy's family has asked that you include your name so that all donations can be acknowledged.

TRIBUTE TO WENDY DELIVERED BY PROFESSOR JENNY GORE, HEAD OF THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

Today we remember and celebrate the life of Wendy Miller as daughter, sister, partner, mother, and friend. I'm honoured to have been asked to add a few words about Wendy as academic. It was in this capacity that I first came to know Wendy, a decade ago.  She was completing her PhD, while designing and building a house and having two gorgeous babies. Very early on I was struck by her capacity to cheerfully manage so much.

Like other aspects of her life, as we've heard, Wendy put everything into her work and loved it - so much so that she kept working right to the end.  As many of you know, she gave a lecture to a packed theatre just over two weeks ago.  The students applauded. I hear she had a real sparkle afterwards; teaching truly energised her. During the last month of her life, she also edited work and provided feedback to her PhD students; she attended meetings and graduation ceremonies, she was working on papers she still wanted to publish; and was setting up yet another research project for which she'd secured funding.  Work wasn't just a job for Wendy, it defined her.  And she was rightly proud of her accomplishments.

She was first employed fulltime at the University in 2004, working as a research associate on a major project. Her PhD was conferred in April 2005, the same month that she moved into an ongoing position as a Lecturer. In 2008 she was one of a handful of staff to receive a VC's award for Teaching Excellence and in the same year finished second in a national Lecturer of the Year competition, in which more than 6,400 other lecturers were nominated from across the country. She was promoted to Senior Lecturer in January of 2010 and I have no doubt was on a fast path to becoming a Professor and even a Vice-Chancellor, if she had wanted it

What mattered much more to Wendy than awards and promotions, was making a difference.  She worked tirelessly and passionately for greater equality, especially in her work on multicultural education, and for Aboriginal people, for students and teachers in low-SES schools and communities, and for gay, lesbian and transgendered people. The rainbows many of you are wearing are a wonderful acknowledgement of Wendy's commitment to equity. She assisted and inspired countless teachers and students to make a difference in their own schools and classrooms.

And Wendy was also committed to excellence; helping others to deliver high quality teaching, helping to turn around schools and communities that were struggling, and always committed to doing her absolute best.  Rough enough was never good enough for Wendy….in all aspects of her life. I'll always remember one of our research road trips, arriving late at a Sydney hotel.  We checked in, and agreed to meet up for room service dinner and Grey's Anatomy in my room, across the hall from hers.  She said she'd join me in about 25 minutes. I asked why it would take so long… Answer… she wanted to iron her pyjama pants! Wasn't she always so perfectly groomed!  And she loved ironing!

I'm so glad we will continue to acknowledge her commitment to excellence in our teacher education programs, through the Wendy Miller Prize.

Speaking as Wendy's Head of School, her boss, I have to say she was a wonderful member of staff - a great University citizen, an active researcher, and one of our very best teachers (so many students have commented on her profound impact on their learning and their lives).  As Wendy's colleague, working together on research projects and events, I already miss her enormous capacity for clear thinking, for beautifully crafted writing and for getting the job done - whatever it was.

It's as her friend though that I want to conclude.  Rarely in life do we find people with whom we connect deeply, with whom we can share our innermost thoughts and fears and joys, for whom we have such respect and admiration.  For me, Wendy was one of these people.

I loved her many sides - the conservative, the wild, the elegant, and the composed - and her qualities -- generosity, empathy, vitality, graciousness and courage - qualities that shone throughout her life and especially through her fierce determination to live with cancer and to make the best possible life for her girls and for Drew.

Wendy was a rare human being, unique and complex and beautiful - a teacher to the end from whom we have all no doubt learned lessons about loving and living and giving.  I shall miss her always.

You can listen to ABC Newcastle's Jill Emberson's tribute to Dr Wendy Miller here.