Maria Lane was an inspirational role model at the University of South Australia for over ten years encouraging Aboriginal women to enter university. Maria Lane was manager of UniSA's Aboriginal and Islander Support Unit, which provided a range of pastoral, academic and social support services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who had passed through the doors of the University since 1973. Maria Lane was acknowledged for her dedication and outstanding service to the University and the wider community.
"I worked with Maria Lane from 1995 to 2005, during which time her program supported both AnTEP and the Aboriginal and Islander Support Unit. She was actively involved in the Aboriginal Studies Program and deeply committed to supporting Aboriginal students.
I have nothing but admiration for Maria. She was always approachable—someone you could have a genuine chat with—and I learned a great deal from her about how to work effectively with students. She was incredibly generous, warm, and open, always willing to share strategies for working with a community I wasn’t part of. I’ll always be grateful for people like Maria.
Back in 1995, things were much tougher for Aboriginal students than they are today. Maria carried herself with great dignity. She was a truly wonderful person."
— Bruce Underwood, Coordinator of the AnTEP program (1992–1994), onsite lecturer in Amata, later based in Adelaide (Underdale and then Mawson Lakes, 1995–2016)
"I remember that Maria Lane was involved in making the very first Aboriginal flag, designed by Harold Thomas. She cut the black and red fabric, cut out the yellow sun, and sewed it all together. It was then flown for the very first time at Victoria Square, Adelaide, in July 1971."
