A pioneer and a ray of sunshine

Joining the diplomatic service had been a long-held ambition for Tonia Shand AM, who died in Canberra on July 15. She was propelled by an interest in international relations and public service, and a feeling that these were areas where she could perhaps contribute "in some small way".

Born in 1938, and educated at The University of Melbourne (BA Hons in political science and German ) and Bonn University, Tonia joined the Department of External Affairs in 1961, one of two women in an intake of 13. The 1960s was not an easy time, however, for women seeking a public service career. Discrimination was entrenched. The "marriage bar" (preventing the permanent employment of married women in the public service) was firmly in place. Equal pay was almost a decade away. Paid maternity leave - and the childcare facilities available today - were beyond imagination. Tonia's story, one of determination and achievement, despite those obstacles, and to challenge some of the practices and attitudes in the department, has earned her a place in the history of women's advancement in DFAT.

Her early years in the department are a textbook illustration of the barriers for women officers at that time. Beginning as an External Affairs Officer Level 1, she completed a training year, then four short-term missions overseas (1962 UN General Assembly, Tel Aviv, Bonn, Stockholm). In May 1963, she was promoted to External Officer Level 2. But five months later had to resign when she married agricultural economist, Dr Ric Shand.

Two months later, she re-joined the Department, in the only way available - as a temporary employee at the base level. A year as a "temp", and another resignation, this time for the birth of her only child, Brigit. Twelve months later, she again re-joined the Department, again back to square one, as a "temp" and an EAO1.

At this point, Tonia felt angry, about the "utterly crazy" marriage bar, about having to "start again at the bottom", and about women who had something to contribute being lost to the public service. She wrote to Prime Minister Menzies, urging change, and also to Labor MP, Bill Hayden, thinking he would be sympathetic. She was right. Hayden (an early member of the Equal Opportunities for Women Association) moved an urgency motion in Parliament demanding removal of the Marriage Bar and the right of married women to be appointed to permanent positions in the Commonwealth Public Service. It was defeated, but change was close. The following year, 1966, the marriage bar was repealed and Tonia rejoined the ranks of permanent employees.

But the marriage bar was not the only obstacle to women's advancement. She, and others, believed - with justification - that women were relegated to policy "backwaters", dealing with economic and social issues and perceived "soft" areas, like human rights and cultural affairs; and that there was resistance to posting married women officers. For Tonia, "married women and their service overseas became the next issue."

It was an issue she tackled with characteristic spirit, applying to be posted to India, a location she judged would be interesting professionally, and where her husband would be able to work in his field of development economics. The department agreed, provided the head of mission would accept a married woman officer on his staff. High Commissioner Sir Patrick Shaw not only agreed but insisted she be promoted.

The posting to India (1973-75) cemented an interest in South Asia that, like the Shands' 50-year marriage, lasted a lifetime, growing steadily in richness, depth and strength. Although Tonia's placements in Canberra took her into many different areas, including a year working in the Prime Minister's Department, all her major overseas postings were in Asia. After Delhi, she served as Deputy High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur (1979-82) and then, from 1988-91, as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, which she considered the high point of her career.

Her time in Sri Lanka proved more challenging than expected. Despite the deaths and destruction she witnessed, she remained steadfastly positive about the country and its people. Nothing diminished her affection for what she referred to as "my great love - South Asia".

And it was reciprocated.

In all three postings Tonia and Ric are still remembered with great fondness . A 2002 article in the Sri Lanka Daily News, by journalist Ilika Karunaratne, recalled that while in Sri Lanka, Tonia was dubbed "Sunshine Shand". And that although the nickname related to her role in a solar project, it seemed apt for someone widely acknowledged as a person of warmth, charm and generous spirit; whose infectious smile and laugh drew those around her into its warm glow.

Yet behind this happy image, there was pain. In December, 1986, Tonia and Ric suffered a terrible blow with the death of daughter Brigit. The loss of their beautiful "Biddy" was devastating, but that underlying toughness that Tonia showed in her early years in the department helped her through, together with the support not only of family, friends and colleagues but of the department itself. DFAT's culture may have warranted criticism at some points in its history, but it has also, on many occasions, quietly extended admirable compassion to officers and their families. It is a community that cares for its own.

As news spread among DFAT colleagues and the many networks to which Tonia (and Ric until his death in 2014), belonged, the tributes have flowed:

"Tonia was a pioneer, an inspiration and a role model for her women colleagues - and a truly lovely person. She was always so cheerful, even in very difficult times and thoughtful of others."

"She was a champion for us all and for the younger generations of DFAT women since - courageous and kind...... a tenacious pioneer for a more balanced and fairer Department and public service generally."

Tonia herself was modest about her achievements. While others acclaimed her appointment as the first woman to be Chief of Protocol, she counted this a lesser achievement than her activism to counter discrimination and challenge the treatment of married women officers. Nor did she make much of being made a Member of the Order of Australia, in 1990, though surely the woman who wanted a career in international relations and public service must have felt gratified to have been honoured for her achievements in both fields.

Tonia's life and accomplishments exceeded by far her wish to make a contribution "in some small way". She will be sadly missed by her sisters Helen and Kim, the extended Shand family and her many colleagues and friends, here and overseas.