CQU’s Professor Elizabeth Taylor AO was locked up on Friday, but still raised $600 for Kids Help Line.

The Faculty of Engineering and Physical Systems’ Dean was a convict for more than an hour for Lock Up Your Boss day, although the prisoner was allowed some visitors for essential meetings.

Faculty spokesperson Bronwyn Jones said they were very pleased with the response with many people contributing to the terrific cause – many arriving through the mud and rain.

“Everyone in the ‘Engineering Cell Blocks’ had a lot of fun with this event - from a set of bolt cutters to a tray of dry bread and water appearing in Elizabeth's office throughout the day. Some enterprising staff went so far as to block her daughter from delivering a nice tasty lunch with threats that the bread and water was all that was allowed.”.

“We even received a very distressed email from Elizabeth's mother implying she was probably too late to save her daughter so was pledging money for her funeral arrangements.”.

Now just to reassure everyone - the bolt cutters were successfully ransomed back to their owner; the “tasty” lunch replaced the bread and water before it spoiled; and Elizabeth's mum is not making travel plans for any funeral.

The Faculty’s Lock Up Your Boss organisers thanked everyone for their donations, enthusiasm for the game, ideas for keeping the money rolling in and most importantly to Elizabeth for wearing her prisoner outfit all day and staying in character without once losing her smile.

KIDS HELP LINE sent a huge ‘thank you’ as well.

Caption: (L to R) Inge Leibnitz, prisoner Professor Elizabeth Taylor, Bronwyn Jones and Dianne Fletcher (at front).