Making the KU Difference
KU Marcia Burgess Award
The KU Marcia Burgess award is a perpetual honour recognising an individual or a team who demonstrate a
strong commitment to vulnerable children and families, or children with additional needs. The award is given
in memory of the late Marcia Burgess.
knowledge and practice by working with educators on the
floor and developing practice hand-in-hand with them, and
Dr Robyn Dolby and Eilish Hughes
with the parent community at KU James Cahill Preschool.
Consultants to KU Children’s Services
This year the award was presented to two highly valued
people who have a strong relationship with KU and who
have made a significant difference to the lives of KU children
over many years.
The first recipient is Dr. Robyn Dolby, a Child Psychologist. For
over ten years, Robyn has had a strong connection with KU
Children’s Services through her valued work as a consultant,
researcher, professional supervisor, author and unofficial
mentor to many KU early childhood educators.
The second recipient is Eilish Hughes, a Child and Adolescent
Art Psychotherapist, who along with her colleague Robyn
Dolby has been working with KU Children’s Services as a
consultant, partner researcher, author and again unofficial
mentor to many early childhood educators.
After our partnership arrangement with the Benevolent
Society came to an end, Robyn and Eilish continued their
involvement with KU.
Since 2009 Robyn and Eilish have been instrumental in
providing professional support and guidance to KU staff
undertaking Marte Meo training, a developmental support
program developed by Maria Aarts in the Netherlands.
Robyn and Eilish are also active participants in KU’s
Professional Learning and Development Program where
they have been able to share their understanding of theory
and practice in a collegial learning environment.
Robyn and Eilish are highly respected by KU staff, children
and families. Their ongoing work has made a significant
contribution to providing better outcomes for children
and their families.
Dr. Robyn Dolby and Eilish Hughes are project founders and
researchers of the Attachment Matters Project.
Over ten years ago Robyn and Eilish commenced a working
relationship with KU through a partner relationship KU
formed with the Benevolent Society to establish the
Attachment Matters Project at KU James Cahill Preschool.
Robyn was the Clinical Coordinator of the project and Eilish
was the Child and Family Worker. The Attachment Matters
Project has been successful in bridging the gap between
Vale - Dr George Frank Lewis
On the 5th August 2012 Dr George Lewis passed away after being diagnosed with
cancer in 2009.
After gaining a Doctoral Degree in Early Childhood and lecturing at Newtown
College and Macquarie University, George developed a passion for helping
children with additional needs, Indigenous children and championing the rights
of all children. It was at this time he became an active member of KU.
George was instrumental, along with Mavis Purnell and Judy Croll, in establishing
KU Starting Points Macarthur and further establishing similar programs in the
Penrith region. The development of the KU Early Language and Literacy Initiative
(ELLI) saw George continue his valuable work with vulnerable children and
families. In 2011, George, along with Judy and Mavis, was awarded the KU Marcia
Burgess Award.
George was made a lifetime member of KU in 2012. He is acknowledged for the
wonderful contribution he made to KU children, families and staff, and will always
be remembered with affection and respect.
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KU Children’s Services