Margaret Davis
Encyclopedia
Margaret Alayne Elizabeth Davis, née Alexander (born 23 September 1933) is a former Australian politician. She was a Liberal
member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
from 1967 to 1978.
She was the daughter of J. K. Alexander, a doctor, and Joan Abbott at Gilgandra
, where she received her primary education. She then attended Abbotsleigh Church of England Grammar School in Sydney
and then the University of Sydney
, becoming a pharmacist
. On 10 March 1955 she married Neil Davis, with whom she had three children. She joined the Liberal Party
around 1959, and sat on Bankstown Council
from 1962 to 1963. In 1964 she was president of the Auburn
branch of the Liberal Party.
In 1967, Davis was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council
as a Liberal member. She served until 15 September 1978, when she resigned just prior to the state election
. Due to the reduction in the Council's size, Davis was not included on the Coalition
's ticket, but was instead endorsed to contest the Legislative Assembly
seat of Waverley
. She was defeated by the sitting Labor
member, Syd Einfeld
.
Liberal 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...
member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
from 1967 to 1978.
She was the daughter of J. K. Alexander, a doctor, and Joan Abbott at Gilgandra
Gilgandra, New South Wales
Gilgandra, is a town and Local Government Area in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the junction of the Newell Highway, Oxley Highway and Castlereagh Highway. It can be reached in about six hours by car from Sydney. Like Coonabarabran, Gilgandra can be...
, where she received her primary education. She then attended Abbotsleigh Church of England Grammar School 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...
and then the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
, becoming a pharmacist
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
. On 10 March 1955 she married Neil Davis, with whom she had three children. She joined the Liberal Party
Liberal 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...
around 1959, and sat on Bankstown Council
City of Bankstown
The City of Bankstown is a city and Local Government Area in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, centred on the suburb of Bankstown....
from 1962 to 1963. In 1964 she was president of the Auburn
Auburn, New South Wales
Auburn is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales Australia. Auburn is located 19 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of Auburn Council.-History:...
branch of the Liberal Party.
In 1967, Davis was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
as a Liberal member. She served until 15 September 1978, when she resigned just prior to the state election
New South Wales state election, 1978
A general election was held in the state of New South Wales, Australia, on Saturday 7 October 1978. The result was the "Wranslide": a landslide victory for the Australian Labor Party under Neville Wran....
. Due to the reduction in the Council's size, Davis was not included on the Coalition
Coalition (Australia)
The Coalition in Australian politics refers to a group of centre-right parties that has existed in the form of a coalition agreement since 1922...
's ticket, but was instead endorsed to contest the Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
seat of Waverley
Electoral district of Waverley
Waverley was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1894, with the abolition of multi-member constituencies, out of part of Paddington, and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Waverley. In 1920, with the...
. She was defeated by the sitting Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
member, Syd Einfeld
Syd Einfeld
Sydney David "Syd" Einfeld AO was an Australian politician and Jewish leader. Born in Sydney, he was educated at Fort St Boys' High School before becoming a manager of a merchandising company...
.