Despite being unable to complete a secondary school education, 74 year-old Mackay resident Mary Cowper will graduate from Central Queensland University on Saturday.

World War II bombings in her hometown Liverpool, England meant she never attended high school and relied on her 12 siblings to teach her to read and write.

“I learnt to read when I was three as my siblings used the newspapers to teach me – I couldn’t get enough of it,” she said.

Prior to war being declared, Ms Cowper was extremely ill and lived in an English manor that the Sisters of Mercy had converted into a hospital to care for sick children.

During her hospital stay, Ms Cowper met internationally acclaimed author JRR Tolkien.

“I was so ill that my growth was stunted and was given six months to live.

“One day this man stood me on this table and declared, ‘Little Mary, you’d make a good hobbit, but your feet are so tiny’. I found out years later that the man was JRR Tolkien because he would often visit orphanages and hospitals to ask children about their dreams.”.

Her love for language led Ms Cowper to complete a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in literature. She enrolled in Master of Letters through CQU in 2004 and intends to undertake Doctor of Philosophy studies in the future.

Apart from studying, Ms Cowper teaches immigrants to read and write at TAFE, as a volunteer tutor.

Ms Cowper’s son, grandson and two British daughters will attend the graduation ceremony being held at the Mackay Entertainment Centre on June 12 from 1.30pm. Over 220 graduates will form the largest ceremony being hosted by CQU in Mackay.

Photo: CQU graduate Mary Cowper will be among the record number of students graduating from the Mackay ceremony on Saturday.