Sonia McMahon
Encyclopedia
Sonia McMahon, known from 1977 as Lady McMahon (1 August 19322 April 2010), was the wife of Sir William McMahon
, Prime Minister of Australia
, and a philanthropist
and Sydney
socialite
.
. She was the daughter of W E and Lilla Hopkins and granddaughter of grazier William Matchett. Matchett was one of Australia's wealthiest men. His estate was valued at over £580,000 gross after his death in 1932, the year Sonia was born. Sonia Hopkins worked as an occupational therapist
until 1965 when she married William (better known as Billy) McMahon, an aspiring politician in Sir Robert Menzies
' government. She was 32, he 57. It was the only marriage for both. He became Prime Minister in 1971.
Later that year, Sonia McMahon made world headlines after being photographed at the White House
wearing a revealing dress in the company of her husband and United States president Richard Nixon
. The white full-length dress featured see-through slits down both sides. The Washington Post
described the dress as one of the most talked about items of clothing ever to be worn to the White House..
In later years (then Lady McMahon) she spoke to her biographer commenting that her husband chose the dress and that it had "certainly made an impact.The truth of the matter is that the Dress was supposed to be an evening Dress, however the Dress arrived white not Black as intended, Lady McMahon never a person to allow waste decided it would be worn in the day ( Thankfully) As suddenly, the world knew where Australia was".
Their first two children were born before he became prime minister (Melinda; and Julian
, an actor). Their third child, Deborah, was born in 1971, during McMahon's term as prime minister.
As a prime ministerial spouse from March 1971 to December 1972, Sonia McMahon organised for a nanny to look after the children at the family home in the Sydney suburb of Bellevue Hill
, while she lived with her husband at The Lodge in Canberra
, attending official duties. In an interview with her biographer, Sonia McMahon said: "It was a hard decision. I loved being with Bill and I loved being a mum. But I knew I had to make a decision, and I chose to be with my husband."
William McMahon was knighted in 1977, and she became Lady McMahon, although often still referred to as simply Sonia McMahon. She became a widow in 1988, and in the ensuing years she continued her philanthropic activities. Lady McMahon became a board member and patron of many charities, including the National Brain Foundation, the Sydney Children's Hospital Foundation, the Australian Cancer Research Foundation, the Microsearch Foundation and Australia's Sudden Infant Death Syndrome association.
She had a very public falling out with her son Julian McMahon
's then wife Dannii Minogue
, calling her not worthy of being married into her family.
suffering broken ribs
, punctured lung
, and multiple other bone fracture
s. She was admitted to intensive care in March 2010 to undergo a procedure to clear her lungs of fluid. While in hospital, Lady McMahon had been preparing for an appearance at the Golden Slipper horse racing event at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse
on 2 April.
Lady McMahon died aged 77 on 2 April 2010, in Sydney's St Vincent's Private Hospital
after suffering from cancer
; her three children were by her side. Tributes emerged from throughout the country from the Sydney social scene and from each side of the Australian political divide. Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott
said, "She added grace and colour to our national life. We will all miss her. Our hearts go out to her family on this sad day". Prime Minister
Kevin Rudd
described Lady McMahon as a "distinguished representative of Australia ... this is a day of great sadness".
Media outlets noted her work in contributing to the community by attending fundraisers for charity and different organisations including being on the board of the Sydney Children's Hospital
as well as for her complete loyalty to her husband. Lady McMahon's estate has been estimated to be worth $30 million in 2010, made up of real estate throughout New South Wales, which she inherited from her late husband .
William McMahon
Sir William "Billy" McMahon, GCMG, CH , was an Australian Liberal politician and the 20th Prime Minister of Australia...
, 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...
, and a philanthropist
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
and 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...
socialite
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
.
Biography
Sonia Rachel Hopkins was born at 'Borambil', Redmyre Road, StrathfieldStrathfield, New South Wales
Strathfield is an Inner West suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Strathfield is located 14 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of the Municipality of Strathfield...
. She was the daughter of W E and Lilla Hopkins and granddaughter of grazier William Matchett. Matchett was one of Australia's wealthiest men. His estate was valued at over £580,000 gross after his death in 1932, the year Sonia was born. Sonia Hopkins worked as an occupational therapist
Occupational therapist
An occupational therapist is trained in the practice of occupational therapy. The role of an occupational therapist is to work with a client to help them achieve a fulfilled and satisfied state in life through the use of "purposeful activity or interventions designed to achieve functional...
until 1965 when she married William (better known as Billy) McMahon, an aspiring politician in Sir Robert Menzies
Robert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
' government. She was 32, he 57. It was the only marriage for both. He became Prime Minister in 1971.
Later that year, Sonia McMahon made world headlines after being photographed at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
wearing a revealing dress in the company of her husband and United States president Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
. The white full-length dress featured see-through slits down both sides. The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
described the dress as one of the most talked about items of clothing ever to be worn to the White House..
In later years (then Lady McMahon) she spoke to her biographer commenting that her husband chose the dress and that it had "certainly made an impact.The truth of the matter is that the Dress was supposed to be an evening Dress, however the Dress arrived white not Black as intended, Lady McMahon never a person to allow waste decided it would be worn in the day ( Thankfully) As suddenly, the world knew where Australia was".
Their first two children were born before he became prime minister (Melinda; and Julian
Julian McMahon
Julian Dana William McMahon is an Australian actor and former fashion model. He is best known for his portrayals of Cole Turner in The WB hit series Charmed, womanizing plastic surgeon Christian Troy on the Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning TV show Nip/Tuck, and Doctor Doom in Fantastic Four and...
, an actor). Their third child, Deborah, was born in 1971, during McMahon's term as prime minister.
As a prime ministerial spouse from March 1971 to December 1972, Sonia McMahon organised for a nanny to look after the children at the family home in the Sydney suburb of Bellevue Hill
Bellevue Hill, New South Wales
Bellevue Hill is an eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Bellevue Hill is an affluent suburb, located 5 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Woollahra....
, while she lived with her husband at The Lodge in Canberra
Canberra
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...
, attending official duties. In an interview with her biographer, Sonia McMahon said: "It was a hard decision. I loved being with Bill and I loved being a mum. But I knew I had to make a decision, and I chose to be with my husband."
William McMahon was knighted in 1977, and she became Lady McMahon, although often still referred to as simply Sonia McMahon. She became a widow in 1988, and in the ensuing years she continued her philanthropic activities. Lady McMahon became a board member and patron of many charities, including the National Brain Foundation, the Sydney Children's Hospital Foundation, the Australian Cancer Research Foundation, the Microsearch Foundation and Australia's Sudden Infant Death Syndrome association.
She had a very public falling out with her son Julian McMahon
Julian McMahon
Julian Dana William McMahon is an Australian actor and former fashion model. He is best known for his portrayals of Cole Turner in The WB hit series Charmed, womanizing plastic surgeon Christian Troy on the Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning TV show Nip/Tuck, and Doctor Doom in Fantastic Four and...
's then wife Dannii Minogue
Dannii Minogue
Danielle Jane "Dannii" Minogue is an Australian singer-songwriter, actress, television personality, radio personality, fashion designer and model...
, calling her not worthy of being married into her family.
Death and legacy
On 22 February 2009, Lady McMahon was seriously injured after slipping on the stairs of a luxury pleasure boat owned by her friend, Paul Ramsay. She was taken to St Vincent's Hospital, SydneySt Vincent's Hospital, Sydney
St Vincent's Public Hospital, Sydney is located in the inner city suburb of Darlinghurst. Though part of the New South Wales state public health system it remains under the auspices of the Sisters of Charity.-History:...
suffering broken ribs
Rib fracture
A rib fracture is a break or fracture in one or more of the bones making up the rib cage.The first rib is rarely fractured because of its protected position behind the clavicle . However, if it is broken serious damage can occur to the brachial plexus of nerves and the subclavian vessels...
, punctured lung
Pneumothorax
Pneumothorax is a collection of air or gas in the pleural cavity of the chest between the lung and the chest wall. It may occur spontaneously in people without chronic lung conditions as well as in those with lung disease , and many pneumothoraces occur after physical trauma to the chest, blast...
, and multiple other bone fracture
Bone fracture
A bone fracture is a medical condition in which there is a break in the continuity of the bone...
s. She was admitted to intensive care in March 2010 to undergo a procedure to clear her lungs of fluid. While in hospital, Lady McMahon had been preparing for an appearance at the Golden Slipper horse racing event at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse
Rosehill Gardens Racecourse
The Rosehill Gardens Racecourse is located in the Western Sydney suburb of Rosehill, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is home of the Sydney Turf Club. Rosehill holds horse races for thoroughbred gallopers on a grass surface. It is one of the two premier racecourses in Sydney, the...
on 2 April.
Lady McMahon died aged 77 on 2 April 2010, in Sydney's St Vincent's Private Hospital
St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney
St Vincent's Public Hospital, Sydney is located in the inner city suburb of Darlinghurst. Though part of the New South Wales state public health system it remains under the auspices of the Sisters of Charity.-History:...
after suffering from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
; her three children were by her side. Tributes emerged from throughout the country from the Sydney social scene and from each side of the Australian political divide. Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott
Tony Abbott
Anthony John "Tony" Abbott is the Leader of the Opposition in the Australian House of Representatives and federal leader of the centre-right Liberal Party of Australia. Abbott has represented the seat of Warringah since the 1994 by-election...
said, "She added grace and colour to our national life. We will all miss her. Our hearts go out to her family on this sad day". Prime Minister
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...
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...
described Lady McMahon as a "distinguished representative of Australia ... this is a day of great sadness".
Media outlets noted her work in contributing to the community by attending fundraisers for charity and different organisations including being on the board of the Sydney Children's Hospital
Sydney Children's Hospital
Sydney Children's Hospital is an Australian children's hospital located in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales.On 1 July 2010 it became part of the newly formed 'Sydney Children's Hospital Network incorporating the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children'.The Sydney Children's Hospital is...
as well as for her complete loyalty to her husband. Lady McMahon's estate has been estimated to be worth $30 million in 2010, made up of real estate throughout New South Wales, which she inherited from her late husband .
External links
- Corbis image of revealing dress