Margaret Whitlam
Encyclopedia
Margaret Whitlam AO (born 19 November 1919) is a prominent Australia
n personality and the wife of former Prime Minister of Australia
Gough Whitlam
. She is a published author, social worker and former champion swimmer, having represented Australia at the 1938 British Empire Games
in Sydney.
Margaret Elaine Dovey was born in Sydney
, New South Wales
, the daughter of Wilfred Robert "Bill" Dovey
(1894–1969), a New South Wales Supreme Court judge. She married Gough Whitlam in 1942, and together they have three sons and a daughter. One of their sons, Nicholas Whitlam
, became a prominent banker and a controversial figure in his own right. Another son, Tony Whitlam
, was briefly a federal MP.
Margaret Whitlam was made an Officer of the Order of Australia
in 1983, for services to the community.
In 2006, she criticised Janette Howard
, wife of then-Prime Minister
John Howard
, for what she considered a lack of commitment to community activities. She withdrew the comments (but stopped short of apologising to Mrs Howard) after attracting widespread condemnation from both sides of politics.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n personality and the wife of former 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...
Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
. She is a published author, social worker and former champion swimmer, having represented Australia at the 1938 British Empire Games
1938 British Empire Games
The 1938 British Empire Games was the third British Empire Games, the Commonwealth Games being the modern-day equivalent. Held in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia from February 5–12, 1938, they were timed to coincide with Sydney's sesqui-centenary...
in Sydney.
Margaret Elaine Dovey was born 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...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, the daughter of Wilfred Robert "Bill" Dovey
Bill Dovey
Wilfred Robert 'Bill' Dovey KC was a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in Australia from 1953 to 1964. He was described as colourful, slightly eccentric and irascible, although he had a brilliant legal mind and a Shakespearean vocabulary...
(1894–1969), a New South Wales Supreme Court judge. She married Gough Whitlam in 1942, and together they have three sons and a daughter. One of their sons, Nicholas Whitlam
Nicholas Whitlam
Nicholas Richard Whitlam born 6 December 1945, is an Australian businessman, the son of former Prime Minister Edward Gough Whitlam and Margaret Whitlam. He first became publicly prominent in 1981 when he was appointed chief executive of the State Bank of New South Wales...
, became a prominent banker and a controversial figure in his own right. Another son, Tony Whitlam
Tony Whitlam
Antony Philip Whitlam QC, is an Australian lawyer who has served as a politician and judge. He is the son of former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and Margaret Whitlam.-Early life and education:...
, was briefly a federal MP.
Margaret Whitlam was made an Officer of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
in 1983, for services to the community.
In 2006, she criticised Janette Howard
Janette Howard
Janette Howard is the wife of John Howard, who was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia.-Early life:Alison Janette Parker was born in Kingsford, 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...
, wife of then-Prime Minister
Spouse of the Prime Minister of Australia
The spouse of the Prime Minister of Australia is a position that until 24 June 2010 was occupied exclusively by women, thus the spouse was often known as the Prime Minister's wife....
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....
, for what she considered a lack of commitment to community activities. She withdrew the comments (but stopped short of apologising to Mrs Howard) after attracting widespread condemnation from both sides of politics.
External links
See also
- Spouse of the Prime Minister of AustraliaSpouse of the Prime Minister of AustraliaThe spouse of the Prime Minister of Australia is a position that until 24 June 2010 was occupied exclusively by women, thus the spouse was often known as the Prime Minister's wife....