The Australian National University (ANU) is mourning the loss of long-serving Secretary of the ANU Students Association, Di Riddell (pictured) who died on 9 June.
Born Diana Gould in the United Kingdom in 1929, Ms Riddell moved to Canberra with her economist husband, John and two sons in 1963.
Two years later she took up the role of Administrative Secretary in the ANU Students Association — a position she would hold until 1990. She was then Manager of the ANU Arts Centre until 1995, when she retired.
During her three decades on campus, Ms Riddell was a central figure in the ANU community and the lives of thousands of students.
She did much to improve accommodation, health, welfare and financial services for students, as well as their social lives beyond the lecture theatre.
Ms Riddell was instrumental in giving students a voice in how the university was run, helping to secure a place for them on the University’s Council in 1966.
To this day, ANU is one of the only universities in Australia that has student representation on its Council.
After her retirement, she continued to be active in the community as a board member of the Canberra Labor Club and the ACT Drug and Alcohol Agency, a Justice for the Peace and the Membership Secretary for the ANU Emeritus Faculty.
Former Academic Registrar, Colin Plowman once told a cohort of students: “Di is a mother to you all… and you owe her a great deal.”
The Student Centre in ANU’s new Kambri Precinct has been named in honour of Ms Riddell’s contribution to the university, its students, and the community beyond.
