The Di Long Bursary

Through the extraordinary generosity of the Di Long Bursary, a once-in-a-lifetime scientific experience will now be within reach for Rosebery girls long into the future. The European Space Centre visit is a defining moment for a small group of Year 10 students, building curiosity, confidence and ambition in science at a time when girls’ engagement with STEM too often falters, not through lack of ability, but because of practical and financial barriers. 

For some students, opportunities like this would otherwise remain out of reach, regardless of enthusiasm or potential. From 2026 onwards, the Di Long Bursary will ensure that three girls each year are able to take part who might previously have been excluded by circumstance, removing a barrier that should never stand in the way of curiosity, aspiration or brilliance. 

This remarkable and enduring gift does more than fund a trip. It sends a powerful message to those girls that they belong in ambitious scientific spaces, and that their future is not limited by circumstance.

Dianne Long joined Rosebery in 1953 and spoke warmly of the school throughout her life. She remembered the friendships she formed, the sense of belonging she felt and the support she received during a period of real uncertainty. 

When Dianne left England in 1957 to move to Australia, her entire class was given the day off to travel to London and see her off from the station. It was a moment of kindness that stayed with her. 

Dianne went on to build a successful career in obstetric ultrasound after initially finding engineering pathways closed to women. Together with her husband, virologist Ian Gust, she raised five children and later became a grandmother to eleven. 

In 2025, Ian contacted Rosebery to explore whether a science bursary could be created in Dianne’s memory. We are extremely grateful to the Long family for a gift that will continue to benefit generations of Rosebery students.