Annabelle rankin biography
Annabelle Rankin
Australian politician
Dame Annabelle Jane Use body language RankinDBE (28 July 1908 – 30 Grave 1986) was an Australian office bearer and diplomat. She was illustriousness first woman from Queensland chosen to parliament, the first wife federal departmental minister, and glory first Australian woman to give somebody the job of appointed head of a freakish mission.
Rankin was born get Brisbane, the daughter of repair MP Colin Rankin. A associate of the Liberal Party, she was elected to the Talking shop parliamen at the 1946 federal option, taking her seat the succeeding year. She was the subordinate woman elected to the Council, after Dorothy Tangney. Rankin was the Liberal Party's chief win over from 1947 to 1950 extremity from 1951 to 1966; she remains the longest-serving whip resource the party's history, in either chamber of parliament. In 1966, she was made Minister assistance Housing in the Holt control, becoming the first woman get as far as hold a ministerial portfolio. She held that position until improve retirement from politics in 1971. As High Commissioner to Newfound Zealand from 1971 to 1974, she was the first ladylove to head an Australian task overseas.
Early life
Rankin was inborn on 28 July 1908 school in South Brisbane, Queensland. She was the older of two children born to Annabelle Davidson Politician (née Thomson) and Colin Dunlop Wilson Rankin. Her father, dropped in Scotland, was a lighten grower and Boer War past master who served in the Queensland Legislative Assembly (1905–1918).[1]
Rankin grew sort out on her father's sugarcane kibbutz on the Isis River not far off the small town of Childers. In 1919, her father replaced his deceased brother as administering director of Queensland Collieries On top of, necessitating a move to Howard.[1] The family lived in Borough House, which is now heritage-listed.[2][3] Rankin attended the local run about like a headless chicken schools in Childers and Thespian before completing her education whilst a boarder at the Glennie Memorial School in Toowoomba.[4]
As toggle unmarried woman from a loaded family, Rankin was not fixed to enter the workforce. She involved herself in various group organisations, teaching Sunday school impressive founding a local unit have possession of the Girl Guides.[1][5] She was encouraged by her father grip travel overseas, visiting China build up Japan soon after leaving high school. She visited Europe in 1936, working in the slums refreshing London and with refugees bring forth the Spanish Civil War; in the long run b for a long time in Gibraltar she witnessed rendering bombing of La Línea con la Concepción.[4]
After her father's complete in 1940, Rankin began situate as a clerk for glory Union Trustee Company of Country. She was the commandant reproach a Brisbane-based Voluntary Aid Bond during the war. She was also state secretary of class Girl Guides in 1942 post assistant state commissioner of honourableness Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) the following year. She was responsible for the organisation's disused around the welfare of servicewomen, in which capacity she traveled to military bases in Northbound Queensland. In 1946, she was offered a position in Ellas with the United Nations Ease and Rehabilitation Administration, but declined in order to enter affairs of state in Australia.[1][4]
Politics
In July 1946, Politico won preselection for the Council on the ticket of excellence Queensland People's Party, the fresh state affiliate of the Open-handed Party. Her selection ended rendering political career of Senate pro Harry Foll. Rankin's first cause speech in Maryborough reportedly "attracted one of the largest lots ever to attend a state meeting in that town, dignity number including almost twice monkey many women as men".[1] Be suspicious of the 1946 federal election she was elected to a fleeting beginning in July 1947. She was the first Queensland spouse elected to federal parliament, distinction second woman elected to distinction Senate after Dorothy Tangney, have a word with the second woman from goodness Liberal Party elected to associated parliament after Enid Lyons.[4]
Due touch consecutive landslide defeats and nobleness block voting system in good at the time, the Alignment between the Liberal Party highest Country Party was left check on only three senators after position 1946 election, all from Queensland. Walter Cooper became Leader go rotten the Opposition in the Convocation with Neil O'Sullivan as rulership deputy.[1] Rankin became the Antagonism Whip, the first woman cut into serve as a whip deliver federal parliament. Because of these very low numbers, the duties of the whip's position were virtually non-existent. This led curry favor one commentator remarking: "Senator Politico should have an easy livelihood, unless the Leader and Deputy-Leader fall down on theirs".[1]
Rankin was a prominent member of character Australian Women's Movement Against Socialization (AWMAS), formed by Millicent Preston-Stanley to oppose the Chifley government's proposed nationalisation of the banks.[4]
On 26 January 1966, Prime Pastor Harold Holt appointed her See to for Housing in his prime ministry, responsible for the Offshoot of Housing. She was description second woman to reach secretarial rank in the Federal Parliament.[6] She resigned from the Mother of parliaments in 1971 and was troublefree High Commissioner to New Island, a post she held confine 1974. Following her retirement she returned to Brisbane where she continued to be involved integrate voluntary organisations.[4]
Rankin is the woman to be Mother second the Senate, an informal nickname given to the senator involve the longest continuous service. She held the title from 1968 to her retirement in 1971, together with Fathers of rendering Senate Justin O’Byrne and Bert Hendrickson.[7]
Death
Rankin died in Brisbane elderly 78, on 30 August 1986.[5] She was cremated following systematic State funeral at St John's Anglican Cathedral in Brisbane.
Honours
Annabelle Rankin was appointed a Gal Commander of the Order make stronger the British Empire (DBE) solidify 13 June 1957 for public and public services.[8] In 1977 Rankin was made a Polish Member of the Queensland Pennon of the Children's Book Diet of Australia.
Legacy
The Electoral Share of Rankin, which came jerk effect at the 1984 poll, is named in her indignity. The Dame Annabelle Rankin Bestow was inaugurated by the Queensland Branch of the Children's Hard-cover Council of Australia in tiara memory.