Janette Howard
Encyclopedia
Janette Howard is the wife of John Howard
, who was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia
.
, a working-class suburb of Sydney
in 1944. Her father was an engineer with the New South Wales railways
. The family later moved to Vaucluse
. She was educated at Sydney Girls High School
and trained as a teacher.
, and met John Howard
at a Liberal Party function. They were married on 4 April 1971, at St Peter's Anglican Church in Watsons Bay
.
The Howards have three children, Melanie (born 1974, married Rowan McDonald 2003), Tim (born 1977) and Richard (born 1980). A grandson Angus was born in 2007.
. Janette issued a rare public statement denying the allegation as "not only wrong but deeply offensive to me."
In 1996 Janette Howard was diagnosed with cervical cancer
and underwent surgery; the type of cancer she had was not revealed to the public until 2006. John Howard said at the time that he would leave politics immediately if it seemed necessary in the interests of his wife's health. Since then Janette has been active in advocating early screening for breast cancer for Australian women.
and Kirribilli House
in Sydney
. She is also a patron of the National Portrait Gallery
.
, Janette "lives and breathes" politics. She also devoted time to "nursing" John Howard's electorate of Bennelong
, which although a Liberal seat since its creation in 1949, gradually became less Liberal and culminated in the defeat of John Howard at the Australian 2007 election.
Although she rarely made any public comment on political issues, she did break this pattern by deciding to speak out against Kevin Rudd
during the 2007 election campaign.
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
, who was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
.
Early life
Alison Janette Parker was born in KingsfordKingsford, New South Wales
Kingsford is a suburb in south-eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Kingsford is located 7 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Randwick...
, a working-class suburb of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in 1944. Her father was an engineer with the New South Wales railways
New South Wales Government Railways
The New South Wales Government Railways was the government department that operated the New South Wales Government's railways until the establishment of the Public Transport Commission in 1972. Although later known officially as the Department of Railways, New South Wales, it was still generally...
. The family later moved to Vaucluse
Vaucluse, New South Wales
Vaucluse is an eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Vaucluse is located north-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government areas of Waverley Council and the Municipality of Woollahra....
. She was educated at Sydney Girls High School
Sydney Girls High School
Sydney Girls High School is an academically selective, Public high school for girls, located at Moore Park, in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
and trained as a teacher.
Marriage and children
She joined the Liberal PartyLiberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
, and met John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
at a Liberal Party function. They were married on 4 April 1971, at St Peter's Anglican Church in Watsons Bay
Watsons Bay, New South Wales
Watsons Bay is a harbourside, eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Watsons Bay is located 11 km north-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Woollahra....
.
The Howards have three children, Melanie (born 1974, married Rowan McDonald 2003), Tim (born 1977) and Richard (born 1980). A grandson Angus was born in 2007.
Personal life
Janette Howard adopted a relatively low profile during her husband's tenure as Prime Minister, however in 1999 a journalist alleged that she had intervened with the Prime Minister concerning an appointment to the board of the Australian Broadcasting CorporationAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
. Janette issued a rare public statement denying the allegation as "not only wrong but deeply offensive to me."
In 1996 Janette Howard was diagnosed with cervical cancer
Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is malignant neoplasm of the cervix uteri or cervical area. One of the most common symptoms is abnormal vaginal bleeding, but in some cases there may be no obvious symptoms until the cancer is in its advanced stages...
and underwent surgery; the type of cancer she had was not revealed to the public until 2006. John Howard said at the time that he would leave politics immediately if it seemed necessary in the interests of his wife's health. Since then Janette has been active in advocating early screening for breast cancer for Australian women.
Public duties
Janette Howard's public duties included accompanying the Prime Minister on official tours and carrying out the duties of official host at the Prime Minister's official residences, The Lodge in CanberraCanberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
and Kirribilli House
Kirribilli House
Kirribilli House is the official Sydney residence of the Australian Prime Minister. The house is located at the far eastern end of Kirribilli Avenue in the harbourside suburb of Kirribilli...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. She is also a patron of the National Portrait Gallery
National Portrait Gallery (Australia)
The National Portrait Gallery of Australia is a collection of portraits of prominent Australians that are important in their field of endeavour or whose life sets them apart as an individual of long-term public interest...
.
Political views
Janette Howard was always seen at the Prime Minister's side during election campaigns. According to John Howard's biographer Pru GowardPru Goward
Prudence Jane Goward MP , an Australian politician, is the Minister for Community Services and Women in the O'Farrell Liberal-National Coalition Government since 2011. Goward is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Goulburn for the Liberal Party of Australia since 2007...
, Janette "lives and breathes" politics. She also devoted time to "nursing" John Howard's electorate of Bennelong
Division of Bennelong
The Division of Bennelong is an Australian electorate in New South Wales. The division was created in 1949 and is named for Bennelong, an Aboriginal man befriended by the first Governor of New South Wales, Arthur Phillip...
, which although a Liberal seat since its creation in 1949, gradually became less Liberal and culminated in the defeat of John Howard at the Australian 2007 election.
Although she rarely made any public comment on political issues, she did break this pattern by deciding to speak out against Kevin Rudd
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
during the 2007 election campaign.