Alumni profile

Maree Edwards is the elected Member for Bendigo West representing the Australian Labor Party. 

She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from La Trobe, and is a member of the Class of 2000.

Maree says she thoroughly enjoyed her time at La Trobe University.

“It was probably one of the best times of my life," Maree said.

"It especially taught me about organisation and how to make sure I prioritise the things that mattered in my life.

“I started La Trobe Bendigo as a mature-aged student, when the youngest of my four children was about 18 months old. It doesn’t matter what age you are, you can always be a student."

During her course, Maree's husband was sadly diagnosed with a brain tumor. 

“At that point I thought that it was really important to finish my degree as quickly as I could. In my last year, I did eight units to finish the BA," she said.

“Having four children, I had a very good reason to keep going and to make sure that they were going to be well looked after after he passed away.

“While it was an emotional journey, and challenging, it was also really rewarding… to be able to come out the other end of that and say ‘I did that’. I did it for my children."

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Last updated: 9th April 2026