Thelma was formerly Head of the Department of Librarianship from 1975, retiring in 1991. She was the first female to be appointed as a Head of Department. Thelma was Secretary of ALIA - Rural and Isolated Libraries Special Interest Group, (RILSIG). The Committee would meet four times per year. The main aim was to work towards equitable access for rural and isolated library information services - cost and facilities on a par with city library information serves.ballarat college of advanced education, women of note, thelma rungkat, head of department, librarianship, first female head, secretary, rural and isolated libraries special interest group, rilsig, alia, equitable access