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I was born in war-torn Latvia in 1944 and migrated to Australia in 1949 with my family after living as displaced persons in Germany for the first five years of my life. Living in Australia was not without its challenges – the heat, the wildlife, the culture shock and the language. But the Australians we met were helpful and kind. 

In the early fifties, we moved to Brisbane – to ‘civilisation’ as my mother put it. Most migrants fleeing Latvia were educated people and were at greater risk of being sent to Siberia by the invading Russians. As such, our parents placed a lot of emphasis on gaining a university education. I certainly experienced the pressure, as did my cohort. 

I was steered into enrolling in social work at another university but struggled to live between two cultures and meet my parents’ expectations. I rebelled and spent most of my days in beer gardens with my Latvian boyfriend. The inevitable happened, and I failed the course. 

In 1972 I got a job in Canberra and reconnected with my culture through folk dancing. In 1984 I returned to Brisbane and reconnected with my family and Latvian community. Around that time that I was accepted into a social sciences course at QUT.

The course really inspired me. I recall going into the library for the first time and feeling like I was on hallowed ground, surrounded by so much knowledge. After some challenging past relationships, I had a great determination to succeed. 

My years of study and the doors that subsequently opened to me were life-changing. 

After graduating, I led a Centrelink project to raise community awareness about elder abuse in Hervey Bay; organised aged care expos around the Sunshine Coast; and won a $50,000 Multicultural Affairs grant to establish a community garden in Hervey Bay. In my personal life, I have secured grants to build and showcase the Latvian community, including a project called ‘Recipes from a Suitcase.’ 

My decision to financially support student scholarships was based on my sense of achievement against significant odds. I wanted to provide opportunities for others, similar to myself, to achieve their dreams. 

If I could do it with challenges - so can other students.  

Remember QUT in your Will  

Dace has chosen to establish a perpetual scholarship by including a gift in her Will – an extraordinary way of creating a life-changing legacy.  

In a world that faces increasing challenges, it is a means of making a genuine, lasting difference by helping to build the future.  

For more information about remembering QUT in your Will contact Heath Mackay, Gifts in Wills Manager, on +61 7 3138 7525 or email: heath.mackay@qut.edu.au