Resilience, Passion and Success in Publishing: Rosemary Shipton (Fairholme Old Girl 1959)
March 24, 2025
Rosemary Shipton | 1959 | Powell House | Day Girl
At 83, Fairholme Old Girl, Rosemary Shipton’s career in publishing is still going strong, and her story is anything but ordinary. Filled with chapters on resilience and determination and success, Rosemary’s story is a bestseller in its own right.
From her early days as an assistant editor at the University of Toronto Press to her current role as an executive editor at Simon & Schuster in Canada, Rosemary has woven a tapestry of remarkable achievements, each more interesting than the last.
With a career spanning decades, multiple facets of publishing, and a still-growing list of editing bestsellers and award-winning works, her passion for books and storytelling remains as steadfast as ever.
But it’s not just her impressive resume that makes her stand out - it’s the way she’s navigated a constantly-evolving industry, mentored hundreds of aspiring editors, and tackled the challenges of a female pioneer in a predominantly male-dominated field.
Now, as she wraps up full-time work in Canada to focus on a few final projects, Rosemary reflects on a career that’s been as fulfilling as it has been groundbreaking, proving that age is truly just a number when you’re doing what you love.
‘You may wonder why I am in Canada. In a way, it’s connected to Fairholme. In the late 1950s, we first knew our results in the state-run Senior exams when they were published in the Toowoomba Chronicle. I was astonished by mine, so much better than I expected, and that got me a scholarship to University of Queensland,’ Rosemary remembers.
‘There I enrolled in the four-year History Honours program, graduated with First-Class Honours, and won an Australian National University Scholarship to ANU in Canberra. From there I won a Commonwealth Scholarship, and, wanting to follow the American system of a combined seminar and thesis degree, chose to come to Canada. After three years here, I married a Canadian – and began my first job in publishing at University of Toronto Press (UTP).
‘The prerequisites for this UTP job - a scholarly publisher - were a minimum of an MA in History, a reading knowledge of French, and the confidence and ability to work mostly with academic authors. In other words, university professors and researchers. After an interview, I got the job and began in August 1968.’
Rosemary, who attended Fairholme in the late 1950s when Nancy Shaw was Principal, continues to embody the spirit of curiosity and lifelong learning that defines a successful career in publishing. The world of trade publishing, where firms like Penguin Random House and HarperCollins reign, is one that demands constant adaptability and enthusiasm, she says.
It’s a realm where no two books are ever alike, and no two authors ever present the same challenges. Yet, for this seasoned publishing veteran, meeting those challenges head-on with diplomacy, respect for deadlines, and passion has been the key to her rewarding career.
‘People who love a career in publishing tend to be curious, to thrive on lifelong learning. Every book is different, so you never repeat yourself. Every author is different, too, so it’s essential to be able to meet whatever challenges spring up and make a success of them.’
Rosemary’s love of books and reading was nurtured at Fairholme (she was Dux of the College in 1959) where she says she was lucky enough to have some inspiring teachers guide her path.
‘My years at Fairholme taught me that if I applied myself, I could succeed. the Principal, Nancy Shaw, was a big influence, as were a couple of teachers, such as Judith Green, who went on, as Judith Rodiquez, to be a well-known poet and university lecturer in Australia. I kept in touch with her sporadically and met up with her once in New York and later in Toronto, just a couple of years before she died,’ Rosemary remembers.
‘At Fairholme, I liked the routine of the morning assembly, sports days and the annual fair.’
One of the strengths of attending a girls-only school, according to Rosemary, is that it encourages students to take on all responsibilities, without the constraints of traditional gender roles. In the 50s - a time when societal expectations often dictated what males and females could do - she says Fairholme allowed young women to break free from those boundaries. ‘One of the advantages of a girls-only school is that the students have to do everything. There is no division of responsibility along ‘traditional’ lines between males and females (as there often was in the 1950s!).’
Similarly, the Fairholme values of seeking excellence, perseverance, integrity and kindness all continue to guide Rosemary’s professional and personal journey. ‘I hope all these characteristics will stay with me to the end of my life.’
When asked about the secret to her career longevity, Rosemary credits enthusiasm and a commitment to staying fit and healthy. Similarly, her passion for her work, combined with a willingness to embrace new opportunities, has kept her at the forefront of the publishing industry for decades. ‘I hoped to make my life as interesting and fulfilling as it could be, to be kind and supportive, and to enjoy my family and my friends,’ she reflects.
‘It’s important to have good friends and to be loyal to them. Also to respect experts and people who know more about some things than you do!’
‘I think Fairholme’s focus on fostering creativity and resilience guided my ability to take risks and embrace new challenges.’
Even as she reflects on her decades-long career, Rosemary is staying firmly in the moment.
‘My final in-house position has been at Simon & Schuster as Executive Editor – and I have a most interesting group of books on the go (including the memoir by the current Governor General of Canada).
‘Recently, I turned 83, so I’m going to resign from full-time work and finish off my projects on a contract basis over the next 15 months. I don’t want to plan beyond the end of 2026 simply because I don’t think that’s fair to authors (who tend to develop a close relationship with their editors).
‘As I look back on my career, yes, I’ve enjoyed it to the full – especially having ventured into so many different aspects of publishing. I’ve also been well rewarded: in 2007, Trinity College, University of Toronto, granted me an honorary doctorate for my contribution to publishing in Canada, and I’ve won two awards given by Editors Canada.’
Having mentored hundreds of students throughout her career, Rosemary’s offers these insights into leadership and nurturing talent in the publishing industry - in fact, for any industry: ‘A good leader leads by example, so be positive, cooperative, creative, and always do your best work.’
And advice to the next generation of Fairholme Old Girls? ‘Be curious, embrace lifelong learning, and never stop trying to make a difference. If you do that, success will follow.’
More News…
This year’s Queensland Debating Union (QDU) Toowoomba Secondary Schools Competition saw Fairholme teams deliver an outstanding season of debating, showcasing sharp thinking, quick wit, and true Fairholme spirit. ‘We have such a wonderful culture of debating at Fairholme, with a great number of students keen to participate every year. The growth I observe in our debaters is extraordinary, from their confidence in speaking, to their exceptional teamwork and critical reasoning when preparing arguments on a wide range of contemporary issues’, says our Debating Co-ordinator, Mrs Kim Scudamore. A special congratulations goes to our Year 7.4 team, who claimed the Grand Final victory against Toowoomba Grammar School. They successfully argued the affirmative on the topic: ‘That we should actively encourage the use of Artificial Intelligence in classrooms.’ Their ability to build persuasive cases and respond confidently to rebuttals was a testament to their hard work and teamwork throughout the season. Our Year 8, Year 10 and Senior teams also impressed, each reaching their respective Grand Finals and finishing as runners-up after tightly contested debates. Their efforts reflected not only strong debating skills but also resilience and camaraderie in high-pressure settings. In total, 16 Fairholme teams competed this season, with 12 teams making it through to the finals. Congratulations to every debater who took part in this year’s competition. The future of debating at Fairholme is certainly in good hands. Fairholme Grand Final Debaters: Team 7.4 - Sophie Cussons, Suzana Yusaf, Abigail Walker, Norah Joseph and Bella Cherry Team 8.2 - Tanishka Chaudhary, Annabelle King, Claire Fischer and Elaine Mutsando Team 10.1 - Sophie Haller, Richa Vimal, Brooke Johnson, Caitlin Schultheiss, Isabella Kentish and Georgia Nicholls Team 12.1 - Ayesha Saleh, Rori Zimmerman, Chanudi Dissanayake and Mabel Galbraith
Year 8 student Ella Phillips has returned holme after an unforgettable tour of the United States, where she proudly represented Australia in the Babe Ruth Softball World Series as part of the Aussie Drop Bears team. Ella’s journey began in Dallas, Texas, before heading to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where she participated in a high-level training camp with local college softball coaches. The team also competed in warm-up matches to prepare for the main event in Florence, Alabama. Competing in the Under 14 division, Ella and her Australian team made it all the way to the double elimination final, narrowly missing out on the championship title by just one run in a nail-biting 8 - 9 loss. Despite the result, their second-place finish is a highlight achievement for Ella. Ella’s individual performance was nothing short of outstanding. During the closing ceremony, she was named in the Under 14 All World Series Team and the Under 14 All Defensive Team, a testament to her talent and consistency on the field. She also ranked in the top 10 for both batting and fielding statistics across the entire tournament. Reflecting on her journey, Ella shared that her softball career began humbly at home in Taroom encouraged by her mum and PE teachers to trial for the South West state team. That experience sparked a passion for the sport and she now plays for Dodgers Softball Club in Toowoomba. ‘I’ve been really lucky with the support I’ve had,’ Ella said. ‘The stats don’t say everything, but they’re the best I’ve ever had. I’m really proud of how I played in America.’ Boarding since Year 7, Ella has ambitions to study veterinary science but also has her sights set on a softball career. With aspirations to play in the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, Ella is already planning her next steps, including a trip to Japan in 2026 to further develop her skills.
Preparing the next generation of athletes for success both on and off the field. Fairholme is proud to be part of an exciting new partnership with the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ), through their 2032 Brisbane Olympics Student-Athlete Empowerment Project. This forward-thinking initiative aims to educate and support student athletes across all areas of sport, health, and performance. As part of this project, our High Performance Sport athletes and Sport Physiology students are taking part in ‘Girls 2 Win’, a specialised program dedicated to the education and empowerment of young female athletes. Led by UniSQ experts in female health and performance, Girls 2 Win focuses on the unique aspects of female physiology and how these can influence wellbeing and sporting success. Students are gaining vital knowledge about the menstrual cycle, hormonal contraception and the ways in which physiology can impact athletic performance. Fairholme’s Head of High Performance, Miss Casey Reynoldson, said the benefits of the program reach far beyond the sporting field. ‘By equipping our Middle and Senior School athletes with tailored strategies and practical tools, the program ensures they are empowered to make informed choices - supporting their health, confidence, and performance in every arena.’ With the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games on the horizon, initiatives like Girls 2 Win play a key role in shaping and inspiring athletes of tomorrow. In addition, our Sport Physiology students are also involved in the UniSQ’s ‘Mind 2 Win’ program. This program explores the crucial role of the mind in health, wellbeing and performance. Through interactive workshops and practical exercises, students are developing key psychological skills such as focus, resilience, self-awareness, and mindset strategies. These tools will help them manage stress, build confidence and perform under pressure, while also supporting their mental health and long-term success. ‘At Fairholme, we are delighted to provide our students with access to world-class education and research in partnership with UniSQ - helping our young athletes take bold steps towards their sporting goals, and perhaps even towards the Olympic stage in 2032.’
