Born in Brisbane, Queensland as Quentin Alice Louise Strachan, she spent her first years in Ilfracombe, with her family subsequently living in a number of country towns around Australia. She attended the University of Queensland, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws, becoming one of the first women accepted to the Queensland bar.
In 1968 she became the first woman to be a faculty member of the Law school where she had studied, and in 1978 she joined the new National Women's Advisory Council. This was followed by a number of positions, including the first director of the Queensland Women's Information Service, the Queensland director of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission and the Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner in 1988.
Her services to the community saw her appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1988, and a Companion of the Order of Australia and Dame of the Order of St John of Jerusalem in 2003. On 26 October 2011, The Queen of Australia invested Bryce as a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order at Government House in Canberra.
Bryce was appointed the Governor of Queensland in 2003. Although some concerns were raised during her time in the position, her five-year term was to be extended until 2009. However, on 13 April 2008, before the completion of the initial five years, it was announced that Bryce was to become the next Governor-General of Australia. The decision was generally well received, and on 5 September 2008 Bryce was sworn in, succeeding Major General Michael Jeffery, becoming the first woman to be the Governor-General.
On 13 April 2008 it was announced that, on the recommendation of Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, the Queen had approved her appointment as the next Governor-General of Australia. The decision was generally well received: current and previous Labor State Premiers supported her selection, and both the then Leader of the Opposition, Brendan Nelson, and the leader of the Australian Greens, Bob Brown, spoke in favour of the decision. Patricia Edgar described Bryce's selection as an "inspired choice", while Jill Singer in the Herald Sun stated that the decision signalled "an important about face for Australia".
There was some opposition to the appointment, in particular from columnist Des Houghton, who argued that she would bring a "fair bit of baggage" to the role (in reference to the controversies surrounding her time as the Governor of Queensland), and that she had failed to live up to her promise to be outspoken during her time at Government House.[33] Concerns were also raised in August 2008, when it was revealed that Bryce intended to replace Malcolm Hazell, who had been the Official Secretary for both Major General Michael Jeffery and Dr. Peter Hollingworth, with Stephen Brady. Kevin Rudd defended Bryce's decision, arguing that she had the right to appoint a new Official Secretary.
Bryce was sworn in on 5 September 2008. On 23 September 2008 she granted her first interview as Governor-General with Kerry O'Brien for The 7.30 Report on ABC1.
Bryce has not escaped criticism in her role as Governor-General. Greg Sheridan in the national newspaper, The Australian suggested that Bryce is risking "politicising and misusing the office".[36] Sheridan was commenting on Bryce's planned trip to Africa, on behalf of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, to lobby for a seat for Australia in the United Nations Security Council.[36] He further stated that Bryce's "feigned interest in Africa will be seen cynically by Africans". Sheridan added that the Governor-General should travel overseas "only rarely and for ceremonial purposes" and "they have no right to engage in foreign policy debate, at home or abroad".
Professor David Flint, National Convenor of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy, said any criticiasm of the South African tour shoud be directed to the government and not the Governor-General. He stated: "The Governor-General must act on advice, except in relation to her most important role, that of constitutional guardian. She may advise against a state visit, but if ministers insist, must go. In that event, she must not of course act as an advocate, although she may inform the foreign government of the Australian government's policy". He said that a Governor-General must be seen to be above politics.
23 December 1942 – 11 December 1964: Miss Quentin Strachan
12 December 1964 – 25 January 1988: Mrs Quentin Bryce
26 January 1988 – 29 April 2003: Mrs Quentin Bryce AO
30 April 2003 – 28 July 2003: Mrs Quentin Bryce AC
29 July 2003 – 29 July 2008: Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor of Queensland
5 September 2008 – 25 October 2011: Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
26 October 2011 – present: Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
On 26 January 1988, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) "In recognition of service to the community, particularly to women and children".
On 30 April 2003, Bryce was elevated as a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)
In November 2003, Bryce was invested as a Dame of Grace of The Most Venerable Order of The Hospital of St John of Jerusalem.
In October 2010 His Majesty, King George Tupou V, The King of Tonga invested Bryce with the Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Crown.
On 26 October 2011 Bryce was invested as a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II during her Royal Visit.
On 5 December 2000, Bryce was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for "Services to Women's Cricket".
On 1 January 2001, she was awarded the Centenary Medal "For service to Australian society in business leadership".
On 30 July 2010 she was awarded the Commemorative Medal for the 30th Anniversary of Vanuatu
2008 – Incumbent: Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps
[edit]Honorary degrees
In 1998, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by Macquarie University (Hon.LLD).
In 2002, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by Charles Sturt University (Hon.DLitt).
Bryce was conferred with the degree of Honorary Doctor of the University (Hon.DUniv) by Griffith University in 2003.
Honorary Doctor of the James Cook University (Hon.DUniv (JCU))
In 2004, Bryce was made an Honorary Doctor of the University (Hon.DU) by the Queensland University of Technology.
In 2006 Bryce was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws (Hon.LLD) by The University of Queensland.
In 2010,Bryce was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws (Hon.LLD) by The University of Sydney,where she was the principal of The Women's College, University of Sydney from 1997 to 2003.
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