“The boys were the final motivator. I wanted to be a role model to the boys and to show them it’s important to see something through,” she said yesterday. 

Mrs Northeast grad-uated from Deakin University yesterday after nine years of study and research into the genetics of Australian desert fish and the relationships between populations of fish that survive in arid environments. 

“It was really interesting research, research I really enjoyed,” she said. 

“My previous studies have been around marine and freshwater science.

“The importance of the research to science was also a motivator.” 

Mrs Northeast said a “few short breaks” broke up her nine years of study and she kept busy with community work. 

“I did a lot of volunteer work to make sure I stayed connected with the community. It’s very easy to get caught up in study,” she said. 

“My mum passed away at the start of my study and the boys came along during that time as well. 

“PhDs always seem to coincide with those things in people’s lives.”