With June Morris
by Sam Regi
In this narrative session with June Morris for True (formerly Family Planning Queensland), she discusses her unconventional upbringing in colonial Africa and England, her impactful career in nursing and midwifery, and her role as a co-founder and educator. June's narrative vividly details the challenges and triumphs she encountered while establishing and expanding True's services, including navigating the sociopolitical landscape of sexual health in Queensland during the 1970s and 1980s. Through June's recollections, the interview provides a captivating glimpse into the evolution of sexual health awareness and advocacy in Queensland, underscoring the significant contributions made by True and its dedicated team.
Press play to listen to an extract from the conversation with June.
"Repetition does wonderful things. Acting the parts does wonderful things. That's how I became experienced." - June Morris
June, you’ve had such an impactful career. Can you tell us about one of your early experiences in delivering sex education at TAFE Colleges?
I remember turning up at the TAFE College, ready for a session. I had everything with me—the films, the family planning leaflets, and even a box of contraceptives. The projector was already set up, and I headed straight to the principal’s office to introduce myself. I said, "My name is June Morris. I’m here for the plumbing students." Well, the poor principal was mortified. He was clearly flustered and picked up the phone immediately, calling the head of plumbing, saying, “Mrs. Venereal Disease has arrived.”
I’ve been called many things over the years, but that one was a first! Despite the awkward start, the session went surprisingly well. The head of plumbing and his students were very receptive. From then on, we became a regular fixture, teaching every group of plumbing apprentices during their seven-week training blocks.
June Morris at home.
It sounds like the program was quite well received. Did it expand beyond the plumbing apprentices?
Absolutely. Word spread quickly, and soon we were asked to run sessions for other types of apprentices. It became so popular that I had to bring in more staff to keep up with the demand. Eventually, we were even invited to deliver sessions at secretarial colleges for the girls. The response was always positive, and we provided the education free of charge.
At the time, sex education was banned in government agencies, but we managed to fly under the radar. We were getting the message out without breaking any official rules—at least, until someone’s mother complained.
What happened with the complaint?
Well, one of the boys had apparently taken a condom from one of our sessions, and his mother found it in his pocket. She wasn’t happy about it and lodged a formal complaint with the education department, accusing us of corrupting the students. It was quite the scandal!
The next thing we knew, the program was axed. Overnight, we were told we could no longer teach at any of the male colleges. However, the secretarial teachers fought hard for us to continue with the girls, and thankfully, we were allowed to carry on with them. What a daft story is that?
Talking Stories with June Morris
Talking Career Stories celebrates professional legacies.
Whether it's the journey of a groundbreaking entrepreneur, the impact of a dedicated leader, or the evolution of a visionary career, we help individuals and organisations preserve their professional stories in a meaningful and lasting way.
This story of June Morris was created for True Relationships & Reproductive Health (True), a profit-for-purpose organisation that June helped establish in 1972. True strives to create a positive social impact by improving reproductive and sexual health and promoting safe, respectful relationships through expert clinical services, education, and counseling.