Helen Cumpston - university administrator

Abstract

Mrs Helen Cumpston was born in 1910 in Hobart and was educated in state schools and the University of Tasmania. She graduated with a law degree in 1930.

She joined the Commonwealth Public Service in 1937 as a librarian with the Department of Commerce. Between 1946 and 1957 Mrs Cumpston accompanied her husband on postings to Chile, New Zealand and New Caledonia. In 1957 she returned to Canberra to take up her appointment at the Australian National University as a graduate assistant in the registrar's division.

Her first contact with Canberra universities was in 1938 when she held a temporary lectureship in modern history at the Canberra University College.

Mrs Cumpston worked in university administration for seventeen years. Her initial duties involved the provision of administrative support services for postgraduate students. She also dealt with legislative problems such as the Superannuation Statute.

In 1963 she was appointed as Assistant Registrar. She retired from the university in 1975.

After retirement Mrs Cumpston held the position of Assistant Secretary to the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee.