Carene Hogg

My mum always encouraged me to study hard so that I could have a career and become financially independent. She was the first woman in her family to attend university, and she wanted me to follow that path. 

My girlfriends from college have also been a great emotional support. At Emmanuel, I was lucky enough to live in the ground floor flat in my second year and the middle flat in my 3rd year and the friendships that formed during this time were instrumental in my 20’s. We went through first loves and first heart breaks together!

Success is being able to have choice. When I was younger, I thought success would mean being a Chief Financial Officer and being financially well off. I now know that being able to choose what you want to do with your time is what success looks like for me.

I spent my 20’s and most of my 30’s working hard in a variety of professional roles but now in my 40’s, I am able to work part time so that I can focus on my family’s needs. With that extra time, I can also support causes that mean a lot to me, including volunteering at school and within the local community. Last year when one of my best college friends was terminally ill with cancer, I had the time to spend with him and help support their family during a very difficult time.

I hope women continue to get involved in college life, as that’s the only way to really enjoy your time at Emmanuel. The friendships you make at college can set you up for a lifetime of fun and support. You never know who will become your tribe, and you may meet them down the hall, in your study groups, or on the sporting fields.

It’s great seeing so many women achieving professional success both in Australia and overseas. Whilst that path is not for everyone, I also hope that the next generation can define their own success by understanding their personal values early in their adult lives and are able to make choices that align with these values. 

One of the things I remember from my time at college was having small group sessions with Jan Edmonds (Principal Edmond’s wife) and doing the Myer Briggs personality test at the ripe old age of 19. It certainly helped me realise what made me, me!

Emmanuel College has provided me with my core group of lifelong friends – we are a mixture of all professions, from all across Australia (and overseas) and have shared so many years together growing into young adults. I love that we remain in touch 30 years later, having shared even more grown-up experiences like weddings, children and unfortunately also death, which has touched our year several times now.

I learnt so much about life at Emmanuel, growing from a shy, high school graduate into a confident young woman. In my role as social convenor in 1997, I was able to organise Emmanuel exclusions, the At Home Ball, and way too many Thursday nights at Rosies in the city. We would organise our own little study groups during swotvac and share notes throughout the semester. Turns out I am still organising everyone and was responsible for our 20 year college reunion in 2015 and hopefully another one for our 30-year reunion, later this year.

I love that our college friendship group of both men and women are able to catch up for an annual lunch (which we do every December), and we try to come together often during the year with our families. My children know that my college friends and their families mean the world to me, having been in each other’s lives for so long. 

I remember learning to look people in the eye when speaking to them, making the effort to remember people’s names and a fun fact about them, and being able to have a laugh. These social skills put me in good stead for my career and life beyond college.

In 2025 Emmanuel College is celebrating 50 years since women were admitted to the College. If you know of an inspirational female-identifying alumnus, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at alumni@emmanuel.uq.edu.au.