Unveiling of the Greta Hort Portrait

University College played host to Melbourne's Danish community at the unveiling of the Greta Hort portrait and launch of the 2018 Greta Hort-Dannebrog Scholarship on Tuesday 25 July, 2017.

Head of College, Dr Jennifer McDonald welcomed Mr Jan Ravnholt, Honorary Consul-General to Denmark and President of Denmark House, Melbourne; Dr Erik Jensen, former Honorary Consul-General to Denmark and his wife Gillian; Mrs Anne Cronin, President of Council; Ms Ann Downing, artist of the portrait; Mr Ole Abildgaard, framer of the portrait; Ms Clare Ellis and Ms Hannah Hotker, former UC Greta Hort-Dannebrog Foundation scholars; Mr Stuart Hibberd, Global Mobility at the University of Melbourne as well as a number of Danish exchange students to the University of Melbourne, College alumni, College residents and other members of the UC community.

"Dr Greta Hort was the first appointed Head of University Women's College from 1938 to 1947. During her time the student population grew from 25 to 100 and various significant programs and projects took place." Dr Jennifer McDonald

One of those 25 students in 1938 was Alumna Lesley King, who made a special effort to attend this event to honour her former Head of College. Mrs King spoke of her admiration for Dr Hort and of her experiences as a resident at, what was then, University Women's College.

The Greta Hort Scholarship was set up in the early 1990’s as a PhD exchange between the University of Melbourne and Aarhus University in Copenhagen, Denamrk. Since then, with the support of the Dannebrog Foundation, it has grown to support two undergraduate scholarships for one Faculty of Arts student and one student from any Faculty at the University of Melbourne to study at Aarhus University in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Having such close ties with the Danish society in Melbourne has opened many doors for residents of University College and provided opportunities to live and study in Denmark. This association with Denmark and the Danish community in Melbourne is something for which UC is extremely proud and very grateful.

For more information and to apply for the scholarship, please visit the University College Scholarships website.