168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø

BEd, BA

At 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s 1947, 1951 - 1959

Judith Bell (nee Hansen) attended kindergarten at 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s in 1947 before attending Oakleigh State School. She returned to 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s as a boarder in 1951 before graduating in 1959. She recalls that when she started in 1951 there was great excitement as the school had a swimming pool. However, due to the Polio scare, the pool ended up being closed for the whole of her first year at the school.

After graduating from 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s, Judith went to Teachers’ College and began teaching in both primary and secondary schools. She married Dr Graham Bell in 1965 and the pair spent nearly four years in Europe, where Graham achieved his anaesthetics qualifications. During her time spent abroad, Judith taught at some very interesting schools in London and Cambridge. They also spent nearly a year living in Sweden.

Their children were born after returning to Brisbane and Judith returned to teaching not long after.

“All of my teaching experience was underpinned by the excellent teachers I had at 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s, especially in French, English, Latin, History and Music.”

In 1995, rather unexpectedly, Judith become one of two pioneering women to be appointed by the State Government to serve on the Board of Trustees of Brisbane Grammar School (BGS). It wasn’t long before Judith became the only female on the board serving for 16 years and assisting to oversee great projects that would take the school from strength to strength.

Judith was also appointed to the Senate of The University of Queensland, where she helped steer an ambitious building program and an expansion of important research institutes such as The Brain Institute.

Judith also worked for the Queensland government from 2008 to 2013 as a commissioner at the Crime and Corruption Commission.

She studied a Bachelor of Education at the Queensland University of Technology and a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in ATSI Studies) at The University of Queensland.

Of her 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s education Judith says: “I am quite certain that my self-confidence grew out of my good education and out of the positions of responsiblity I enjoyed while at school: Prefect, Chaucer House Captain, recipient of the Old Girls’ Prize and several other prizes. In my senior year, Miss Wearin was very ill, so Joan MacAdam and I shouldered extra responsibility to assist the boarding house.  Such confidence and self-belief allows one to meet all kinds of challenges in later life.”

A multi-generational 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s family, Judith’s daughter Charlotte Davis (’90) attended 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s for 11 years and is now Senior Council with QIC, while her granddaughters Margot (’20) started at the school in Year 3 and Hilary is currently in Year 9. Her youngest granddaughter will attend 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s in future years.

In 2003, it was announced by then Prime Minister John Howard, that Judith was the recipient of The University of Queensland’s Centenary Medal recognising her distinguished service to the community.

On Australia Day 2021, Judith was awarded a Member of the Order (AM) for significant service to the administration of justice, to the visual arts and to education.

Judith is an avid lover and collector of art. In 2018, Jun Chen’s portrait of Judith was a finalist in the Archibald Prize, and last year, Amanda Penrose Hart’s portrait of her was a finalist in the Brisbane Portrait Prize.  

Judith says: “168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s set me up for a life filled with interest and achievement. I felt confident when offered unexpected opportunities.”