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Each year, the Genazzano FCJ College Council recognises the contributions of a past student who has made a difference in our community and displayed the Genazzano values of courage and confidence. An inspiring role model for all young women, the Award acknowledges their love of learning and service to others.
Nominate an Outstanding Alumna: 2021 Nomination Form.
Throughout her professional and personal life, Mary Hiscock has been an outstanding role model to many, instilling the strong belief that women can aspire to a career in almost any discipline. She demonstrated this in her career as she faced barriers in a male dominated profession. As Chair of the Women Lawyers Association in 1969, linked to the National Women’s Council, she was involved in the historic national Equal Pay Case in 1969.
On completing her matriculation at Genazzano in 1955, Mary was awarded the Julia Flynn Prize as the top student in a Victorian Catholic School. Mary went on to complete her Bachelor of Law with honours at the University of Melbourne and was offered a fellowship to complete her Doctor of Law with the University of Chicago. She returned to the University of Melbourne in 1963 and accepted a position as the first full time female academic appointed to the Faculty. In 1972, at a young age of 33, Mary made history again when she became the Faculty of Law’s first female reader at the University of Melbourne; and was recognised as a pioneer of the study of comparative Asian Law.
From 1994, Mary became Chair of Law at Queensland’s Bond University, where she taught Contract and International Trade Law and later was appointed Associate Dean (Research and Graduate Studies). She retired in 2002 to care for her ailing husband. She was then made Emeritus Professor of the Law Faculty. Mary returned to teaching in 2006 after his death. Speaking to her lifelong dedication to her profession, Mary continues to be involved in some teaching and the supervision of postgraduate students today in 2020.
Her dedication to the field of Law has seen her achieve multiple awards recognising her contributions. She has authored and co-authored many articles in learned journals and countless books regarding the areas of law in which she specialises, such as International comparative and commercial law, and contract law. Mary remains a member of the Editorial Boards of the Australian Journal of Asian Law and of the Melbourne Journal of International Law.
Mary has always demonstrated a willingness to help others by providing advice, which has resulted in a high level of respect for her work. As an expert in international trade and investment, she has been influential within government and academic institutions as well as significant international institutions, including the United Nations Commission of International Trade Law.
Her love of teaching has made her a wonderful mentor and provided ongoing joy as she has watched her students develop into influential figures in their own communities. Mary has proven herself to be a positive example and an Outstanding Genazzano Alumna, epitomising determination and self belief to achieve her many accolades in an illustrious career spanning over five decades.
Rebecca Daniher was the recipient of the 2019 Outstanding Alumna Award for her dedication and commitment in finding a cure for Motor Neuron Disease.
The recipients in previous years have received the award for their contributions as detailed below:
1995: Dr Suzanne Crowe (1967) Medical Research
1996: Dr Patricia Desmond (1974) Medicine
1997: Miss Catherine Santamaria (1962) Public Service and Public Policy
1998: Dr Jane Connor (Posthumous Award) (1986) Medicine
1999: Ms Gabrielle Trainor (1973) Governance and Communications
2000: Ms Margaret Easterbrook (1981) Journalism
2001: Sr Barbara Brown-Graham FCJ (1963) Education and the FCJ Society
2002: Ms Jacinta Heffey (1965) Law
2003: Dr Brenda Niall AO (1948) Literature
2004: Professor Marie Emmitt (1963) Education
2005: Miss Julie Chamberlin (1952) Education
2006: Ms Angela Cannon (1982) Law
2007: Ms Melinda Crean (1986) Music and the Arts
2008: Mrs Kerry Stone (1965) Social Action
2009: Ms Sally Isaac (Posthumous Award) (1990) Local Government
2010: Dr Anita Clarke (1982) Medicine
2011: Dr Judith Paphazy (1958) Psychology
2012: Mrs Fiona Scanlan (1978) Fashion Design
2013: Dr Bernadette Tobin (1963) Bioethics
2014: Sr Maryrose Dennehy fcJ (1949) Education and the FCJ Society
2014: Chloe McCardel (2002) Marathon Swimming and charity work
2015: Janet DeNeefe (1976) Contribution to the Indonesian Community and Tourism
2016: Jane Kennedy (1982) Media, Film and Television
2017: Dr Sarah McNab (1995) Medicine
2018: Julia Zaetta (1969) Media
2019: Rebecca Daniher (2008) FightMND
Alumnae Office