She was the first woman to be awarded the University of Sydney Medal for Veterinary Science (January 1969) and the first woman in the Faculty of Veterinary Science to be awarded a PhD (1973), for her thesis entitled āStudies on virus host-cell relationships of a feline calicivirusā.
She was also the first woman to become an associate professor in the Faculty of Veterinary Science, although her bids to become a full professor were unsuccessful.
In 1988, she became the first woman in Australia to be awarded a Doctor of Veterinary Science on the basis of her work on the āBiological Properties of some Microorganisms of Veterinary Importanceā.
Love was renowned for the advances made through her research in the areas of soft tissue infections, oral cavity disease and feline and equine respiratory infections.
She received a Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) award for her outstanding contributions to equine research and the Australian Horse Industry in 2001.