Vale Liz Huf ... Much-loved academic, alumnus and stalwart of the creative and cultural community of Central Queensland Dr Liz Huf passed away last Friday after a battle with cancer.

After a career as a journalist, Liz made a valuable contribution to the University through more than two decades of service as a lecturer, researcher and community project leader. Liz loved working at the University and was incredibly proud of her association with it.

LINK for a recent Be Magazine article on Liz

Dr Liz Huf pictured recently

Liz may have retired from active teaching roles in recent years, but she was still actively engaged linking CQUniversity to its communities, particularly through her 21 years of leadership of the Idiom 23 Magazine, Bauhinia Literary Awards and the writers' workshops held at North Keppel Island and Byfield.

Liz produced documentary films recording the history of the Central Queensland region, relating the stories of King O'Malley, Tom Wills (founder of AFL), heritage tourism and the opal and sapphire industry. She recently presented her film 'Romancing the Stone' at this years' Gemfest.

She was recipient of the 2005 Johnno award presented by the Queensland Writers Centre in recognition of her outstanding contribution to Queensland writers and writing. More recently she shared a CQUniversity Opal Award for Engaged Service with Dr Lynda Hawryluk for their work organising the writers' workshops on North Keppel Island.

Liz was a co-author on the seminal Rockhampton history Sin, Sweat & Sorrow and also served as editor for CQUniPress after the passing of her friend Professor David Myers.

 All who got to know Liz were treated to her gentle, generous and persuasive personality and would have fond memories.

Academic colleague Dr Lynda Hawryluk said her fondest memories of Liz were from times spent on the island.

"I feel so grateful to have known her and to have been included in her family and am proud to have been her friend," she said.

"She was a real asset to the University and the community and will be greatly missed."

Lynda said Liz loved the University and working with the students and was "so involved in everything".

"She lived a good long life and packed more into it than most people do."

Former Uni colleague Peter Lawrence recalls a story from the days when Liz was a young journalist working in Victoria.

"She was sent to cover the small town of Natimuk's annual show and was asked to enter the local beauty contest - and as part of the story she thought it would be a good idea - she won and was named Miss Natimuk."

Dr Huf's legacy will live on in the publications and documentaries she has created and in the community of writers and artists she helped develop in CQ.

She is survived by her husband Maurice.  The couple had children Louisa, Sam, Emma, Cilla (deceased), Nick and Caroline.