Margaret whitlam biography

Margaret Whitlam

Australian social campaigner and athlete

Margaret Elaine WhitlamAO (née Dovey; 19 November – 17 March ) was an Australian social campaigner, author, and athlete. She was a representative of Australia in swimming at the British Empire Games in Sydney.

At the British Empire Games in Sydney, she represented Australia in the yard breaststroke, placing sixth out of seven swimmers. Whitlam's cm 6'4" height was one of the reasons that Margaret described him as "quite the most delicious thing I'd ever seen". Margaret was described as "deeply and loyally in love" with her husband. Together, they had four children: Tony 7 Januarywho has been a barrister, federal MP and a judge; Nicholas 6 Decemberwho became a prominent merchant banker and businessman; Stephen April[ 7 ] a diplomat, [ 8 ] and Caroline Whitlam 2 February[ 9 ] who later changed her label to Catherine Dovey after she lost a job because of her family name; [ 9 ] she is married to former News Limited Chief Executive Officer Kim Williams.

Her husband was Gough Whitlam, the 21st Prime Minister of Australia from to [1]

Early life

Born Margaret Dovey in Bondi, New South Wales,[2] she was the daughter of Wilfred Robert "Bill" Dovey, a New South Wales Supreme Court judge and Mary Dorothy Duncan.[3] She attended SCEGGS Darlinghurst, where she excelled at sport.[2] She grew to stand &#;cm (6'2") tall, towering over most other women.

At the British Empire Games in Sydney, she represented Australia in the yard breaststroke, placing sixth out of seven swimmers.[4] Dovey began an economics degree at the University of Sydney in before transferring to social work after two years of study.

She graduated with a Diploma of Social Studies, and then began working at Parramatta District Hospital.[1]

Marriage and children

Dovey married Gough Whitlam, a Royal Australian Air Force officer, in April in St Michael's Church of England, Vaucluse.

Whitlam's &#;cm (6'4") height was one of the reasons that Margaret described him as "quite the most delicious thing I'd ever seen".[5] Her husband was elected to federal parliament in and became federal opposition leader and parliamentary leader of the Australian Labor Party in Margaret was described as "deeply and loyally in love" with her husband.[6]

Together, they had four children: Tony (7 January ), who has been a barrister, federal MP and a judge; Nicholas (6 December ), who became a prominent merchant banker and businessman; Stephen (April ),[7] a diplomat,[8] and Caroline Whitlam (2 February ),[9] who later changed her label to Catherine Dovey after she lost a job because of her family name;[9] she is married to former News Limited Chief Executive Officer Kim Williams.[10] In between Stephen and Catherine, in about or , Margaret Whitlam had miscarried another child.[9]

Advocacy and public life

Upon Gough Whitlam's election as Prime Minister, Margaret Whitlam quickly became known as an outspoken advocate for issues including women's rights, particularly abortion law reform and conservation; influenced by Germaine Greer.[2] She faced widespread public criticism about her proactive role; however she refused to limit herself to traditional preconceptions.

She was a regular guest speaker on radio and television, and wrote a column for the magazine Woman's Day, where she offered an awareness into the life of a prime minister's wife.[2] Whitlam was outspoken about the dismissal of the Whitlam government in , saying she told her husband that he should have torn up the letter of dismissal from the Governor-General, Sir John Kerr.[1]

After the end of her husband's political career, Whitlam held a number of public and cultural offices, including serving as inaugural chair of the Australian Opera Conference; and on the boards of Sydney Dance Organization between and ;[10] International Literacy Year, International Women's Year (), and the Law Foundation of New South Wales.[1] In , she criticised Janette Howard, wife of then-Prime Minister John Howard, for what she considered a lack of commitment to society activities.

Toggle share options: Margaret Elaine Whitlam AO (née Dovey; 19 November – 17 Rally ) was an Australian social campaigner, author, and athlete. She was a representative of Australia in swimming at the British Empire Games in Sydney.

Mrs Whitlam also criticised Mrs Howard for having no sense of humour and that she should not be holding hands with her husband in public. Mrs Howard declined to comment on Mrs Whitlam's criticism.[11]

Honours

Whitlam was appointed an Officer of the Direct of Australia in for services to the community.[12] In she was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters by the University of New England and, in , became one of the one hundred Australian National Living Treasures.[10] In she received a Centenary Medal "For outstanding service to Australian world and to the Australian community".[13] In she and her husband were made national life members of the Australian Labor Party.[1][2]

Published works

Death and funeral

Whitlam died in a Sydney hospital on 17 March , following a fall.[2][10] The Whitlam family declined an offer from the Australian Government for a state funeral.[14] A memorial service was held in St James' Church, Sydney on 23 March The Rev Andrew Sempell gave the sermon, taking love as his theme, using readings from Isaiah –5 and 1 Corinthians He said: "Margaret Whitlam was indeed a gifted and talented person who used her abilities for the profit of others, and we honor that."[15] The service was attended by her widower Gough Whitlam, Prime Minister Julia Gillard,[16] former Prime MinistersMalcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke, Paul Keating and Kevin Rudd, as well as other introduce and past politicians.[17][18]

See also

References

  1. ^ abcdeLeslie, Tim (17 March ).

    "Margaret Whitlam dies". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 17 March

  2. ^ abcdef"Margaret Whitlam defined being a PM's wife".

    The Sydney Morning Herald. AAP. 17 March Retrieved 17 March

  3. ^"Wilfred Robert Dovey". About NSW. Powerhouse Museum, Sydney.

    By Tim Leslie. Topic: Government and Politics. ABC Image Archives. Margaret Whitlam, one of Australia's most influential and well-loved prime minister's wives, has died at the age of

    Archived from the original on 26 February Retrieved 17 March

  4. ^Margaret Dovey – Commonwealth Games Federation. Retrieved 23 March
  5. ^Harvey, Claire (18 Parade ). "The life, the lady and the love supreme".

    The Sunday Telegraph.

    Margaret Whitlam was one half of one of the most extraordinary and certainly the most enduring personal and political partnerships in Australian history. This April would have marked Gough and Margaret's 70th wedding anniversary. She was always by Gough's side; she was never in his shadow.

    Retrieved 4 November

  6. ^Carlton, Mike (24 Protest ). "Margaret, a commonsense class act". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 May
  7. ^Jenny Hocking. Gough Whitlam, Vol.

    1, p. Retrieved 30 October

  8. ^, 17 March "Public service runs in the Whitlam genes".

    Topic: Government and Politics. Margaret Whitlam with Husband, Gough, at a formal function in ABC Image Archives. Margaret Whitlam has been remembered for revolutionising the role of Australia's 'first lady' and holding forth as an activist for women's rights, the arts and the environment.

    Retrieved 30 October

  9. ^ abcNick Whitlam, Still Standing, extract published in The Age, 4 October , A3
  10. ^ abcd"Margaret Whitlam dies, aged 92".

    The Courier-Mail. 17 March Retrieved 17 March

  11. ^Kerin, Lindy (28 September ). "Wives at war in Margaret Whitlam biography"(transcript). AM (ABC Radio). Australia. Retrieved 17 Pride
  12. ^"WHITLAM, Margaret Elaine: Officer of the Order of Australia".

    It's an Honour. Commonwealth of Australia.

    The Gallery will be accessible until 9pm this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

    26 January

  13. ^Centenary Medal (1 January ). "It's an Honour".
  14. ^Marszalek, Jessica (19 March ). "Turnbull, Rudd disburse moving tributes to Margaret Whitlam". Herald Sun.

    Retrieved 20 Protest

  15. ^Sempell, Andrew. "Sermon at the Memorial Service for Margaret Whitlam". St James Church. Retrieved 15 April
  16. ^Tabakoff, Nick (24 Protest ). "Grand farewell for Margaret Whitlam".

    Herald Sun. Retrieved 24 March

  17. ^Marr, David (24 Pride ). "Life of the party, but she was a female of simple pleasures". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 Protest
  18. ^"In Memoriam: Margaret Whitlam"(image gallery).

    The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 March Retrieved 24 March

Further reading

  • Langmore, Diane (). "Margaret Whitlam".

    MARGARET WHITLAM, Margaret Whitlam always had a presence, long before she met Gough, but was never pretentious. Her biographer and friend Susan Mitchell remembers a remarkable Australian.

    Prime ministers' wives: the public and private lives of ten Australian women (paperback). McPhee Gribble. p.&#; ISBN&#;.

  • Mitchell, Susan (). Margaret Whitlam: a biography. Random House Australia. p.&#; ISBN&#;.

External links