Mary Batchelor
Encyclopedia
Mary Dorothy Batchelor, QSO
(7 January 1927 – 12 March 2009) was a Labour
Member of Parliament
for the Avon
(Christchurch
) electorate for 15 years from 1972
to 1987
.
Batchelor also served on the Christchurch City Council
for six years between 1971 and 1977. She was awarded a QSO
in 1987 for public service, a New Zealand 1990 Medal, and a Women's Suffrage Medal in 1993.
Mary Batchelor died on 12 March 2009.
"She advocated firmly for equality of women in work, and for women generally, without being anti-male" (David Close quoted in The Christchurch Press, 28 March 2009).
QSO
QSO may refer to:*Quasi-stellar object or quasar*Queen's Service Order, New Zealand honour*Queensland Symphony Orchestra*The Quantic Soul Orchestra*QSO, a Q code used in commercial and amateur radio communication*The IATA airport code for Sousse, Tunisia...
(7 January 1927 – 12 March 2009) was a Labour
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the Avon
Avon (New Zealand electorate)
Avon is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate.-Population centres:The electorate is in the eastern suburbs of Christchurch, New Zealand, based on the suburb of Avonside.-History:...
(Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
) electorate for 15 years from 1972
New Zealand general election, 1972
The New Zealand general election of 1972 was held to elect MPs to the 37th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Labour Party, led by Norman Kirk, defeated the governing National Party.-Background:...
to 1987
New Zealand general election, 1987
The 1987 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the 43rd sitting of the New Zealand Parliament. The governing New Zealand Labour Party, led by Prime Minister David Lange, was re-elected for a second term, although the Opposition National Party made gains...
.
Batchelor also served on the Christchurch City Council
Christchurch City Council
The Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Christchurch. Since 2007, the Mayor of Christchurch is Bob Parker, who stood as an independent candidate...
for six years between 1971 and 1977. She was awarded a QSO
Queen's Service Order
The Queen's Service Order was established by Queen Elizabeth II on 13 March 1975, awarded by the government of New Zealand "for valuable voluntary service to the community or meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the public sector, whether in elected or...
in 1987 for public service, a New Zealand 1990 Medal, and a Women's Suffrage Medal in 1993.
Mary Batchelor died on 12 March 2009.
"She advocated firmly for equality of women in work, and for women generally, without being anti-male" (David Close quoted in The Christchurch Press, 28 March 2009).