ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi θɹˈiː, ʃiː ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾᵻd æz ɐ bˌiːˈeɪ ˈædəlˌeɪd, skˈoːɹɪŋ fˈɜːst plˈeɪs ɪn pəlˈɪɾɪkəl sˈaɪəns ænd wˈɜːkt ɪnðə hˈɪstɚɹi skˈuːl dˈʊɹɹɪŋ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi fˈaɪv ænd nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi sˈɪks ɹˈiːdɪŋ ˈɛseɪz ænd lˈɛktʃɚɹɪŋ.
In 1943, she graduated as a BA (Adelaide), scoring first place in Political Science and worked in the History School during 1945 and 1946 reading essays and lecturing.