Professor Emerita Fay Gwendoline Gale AO

Fay Gale was born Gwendoline Fay Gilding, 13 June 1932 in Balaklava, South Australia.[1]

Gale was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in 1952, with Honours in Geography in 1954, from the University of Adelaide.[2]  She commenced a PhD in Geography at the University of Adelaide in 1957, graduating in 1962.[3]  Her research focused on the position of Indigenous Australians, particularly the impact of assimilation policies.

In 1966, Gale became a lecturer Geography at the University of Adelaide.  In 1971, she was first promoted to senior lecturer, then reader in 1975.  Gale finally became the first female Professor at the University of Adelaide in 1978.[4]

In 1988, Gale was appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Adelaide, again the first woman to hold the position at the University.  In 1990, she was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Western Australia, until her retirement in 1997.[5]

In 1997, Gale established the Fay Gale Fellowship at the University of Western Australia, to provide career support to caregivers, and to recognise the career disadvantages that arise from caring responsibilities.[6]

Gale was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1989 in recognition of service to social science, particularly in the fields of Geography and Indigenous Studies.[7]

Fay Gale died in Adelaide 3 May 2008.[8]

In 2009 the University of Adelaide established the Fay Gale Centre for Research on Gender.[9]