Remembering Hannah Campbell
The Marcus Oldham College community is deeply saddened by the tragic death of our student, Hannah Campbell, who lost her life alongside her father, Ian, in a light aircraft accident on Monday.
Hannah was just 23.
Our thoughts are first and foremost with Hannah’s mother, Jane, her sister, Lilly, and all of Hannah and Ian’s family and friends. It is difficult to comprehend the enormity of their loss.
Although Hannah had only been at Marcus Oldham for a relatively short time, she had already made a remarkable impression on our community.
Since her death, one description of Hannah has stayed with me: she was the glue that held her class together.
Hannah looked out for people. She cared about how others were going and made sure everyone felt included. Her classmates elected her as their Class Representative, reflecting the respect they had for her and the trust they placed in her. She was equally well regarded by our staff.
She was adventurous, enthusiastic and someone who embraced life and every opportunity that came her way.
Agriculture had always been central to Hannah’s life. She grew up on dairy farms around Goondiwindi, spending school holidays working alongside her parents and younger sister. From an early age, she experienced both the hard work of agriculture and the importance of family, business and community within it.
After finishing school, Hannah spent two years working with AAMIG at Legune Station, gaining experience in large scale cattle operations and cattle trading. She then spent two years as Operations Manager with Ord Valley Helicopters and Helimuster, coordinating people and operations in a role carrying considerable responsibility.
It was an impressive breadth of experience for someone of just 23.
Yet one of the things that struck me most about Hannah was that she came to Marcus Oldham because she knew there was still much she wanted to learn.
She wanted to deepen her understanding of agribusiness management, financial decision making and strategy. She wanted to become a better leader and ultimately take on senior roles within Australian agriculture. Her longer term ambition was to specialise in animal nutrition, combining her practical experience with business and technical knowledge to improve outcomes for producers.
In her application to Marcus Oldham, Hannah wrote that she wanted a career that would allow her to “keep learning while contributing to the industry”.
I think those few words capture Hannah particularly well.
Her desire to contribute extended well beyond her career. Hannah had been planning to cycle from Barwon Heads in Victoria to the Breakfast Creek Hotel in Queensland to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, continuing her family’s strong support for an organisation that means so much to regional Australia.
It was a considerable challenge, but entirely consistent with the Hannah we had come to know: adventurous, determined, generous and willing to have a go.
At Marcus Oldham, we hope to develop graduates who become leaders, continue learning throughout their lives and make a positive contribution to agriculture and their communities.
Hannah was already doing those things.
Her loss has had a profound impact on her classmates and our staff. There will be an empty place in her class that cannot be filled.
But Hannah’s influence will remain. Her classmates will remember the person who looked out for them, the Class Representative they trusted, the friend who brought people together, and the young woman they described simply as the glue that held their class together.
Hannah had already achieved a great deal in 23 years, but she had so much more ahead of her.
We are enormously saddened that she will not have the opportunity to fulfil those ambitions, but we are also enormously privileged that, for a short time, Hannah chose Marcus Oldham to be part of her journey.
On behalf of everyone at Marcus Oldham College, I extend our deepest sympathy to Jane, Lilly, and all of Hannah and Ian’s family and friends.
Hannah will be deeply missed.
She will be very fondly remembered.
Andrew Baker
Principal – Marcus Oldham College