Millie Peacock
Millie Peacock | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Allandale | |
| In office 1 November 1933 – 1 February 1935 | |
| Preceded by | Alexander Peacock |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Parkin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Millie Gertrude Holden 3 August 1870 East Framlingham, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 7 February 1948 (aged 77) Creswick, Victoria, Australia |
| Resting place | Creswick cemetery |
| Political party | UAP |
| Other political affiliations | AWNL |
| Spouse | |
Millie Gertrude Peacock (née Holden; 3 August 1870 – 7 February 1948), usually known as Lady Peacock, was the first woman elected to the Parliament of Victoria. She was the wife of Sir Alexander Peacock, a three-time Premier of Victoria, and upon his death in 1933 won the by-election to replace him in parliament. She served only a single term, retiring at the 1935 state election due to her inability to keep up with the demands of her rural constituency.[1]
Early life
Millie Gertrude Holden was born in East Framlingham, Victoria, to Marianne (née Arnold) and John Bryson Holden. Her parents were both born in Ireland. Her father – originally from County Antrim – had arrived in Victoria in 1855, and became a successful land agent and auctioneer in Port Fairy.[2] Holden attended Methodist Ladies' College, Melbourne. She was first introduced to politician Alexander Peacock in 1899, when her family hosted members of the Australian Natives' Association during a conference. They married on 1 January 1901, when she was 30 and he was 38. After her husband's knighthood the following year she was known as "Lady Peacock".[3]
Parliament
Following Sir Alexander Peacock's death in 1933, Robert Menzies encouraged Lady Peacock to stand in the by-election for her husband's seat of Allandale. She did so reluctantly and, because she was mourning her husband's death, made no speeches. She was elected and sworn in as the first woman member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly on 21 November 1933. She retired from politics at the end of her term in 1935, saying that, "Parliament is no place for a woman."
References
- ^ Parliament of Victoria. "Millie Gertrude Peacock". re-member: a database of all Victorian MPs since 1851. Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Holden, John Bryson, The University of Melbourne]
- ^ LADY PEACOCK AS CANDIDATE: Politician's romance, The News, 12 October 1933.
External links
- Parliament of Victoria. Women in Parliament, Lady Peacock
- "Peacock, Millie Gertrude (1870-1948)" at National Library of Australia
- Use dmy dates from September 2010
- 1870 births
- 1948 deaths
- United Australia Party members of the Parliament of Victoria
- Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
- Australian people of Northern Ireland descent
- People educated at Methodist Ladies' College, Melbourne
- People from Port Fairy
- Women members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly