Florence Bjelke-Petersen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lady Bjelke-Petersen
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On her wedding day, 31 May 1952
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| Senator for Queensland | |
| In office 12 March 1981 – 30 June 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Glen Sheil |
| Succeeded by | John Woodley |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Florence Isabel Gilmour
11 August 1920 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Died | 20 December 2017 (aged 97) Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia |
| Political party | National |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
Florence Isabel Bjelke-Petersen (born Florence Gilmour; August 11, 1920 – December 20, 2017) was an Australian politician and writer. She was known as Lady Bjelke-Petersen, or simply 'Lady Flo'. She was married to Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, who was the Premier of Queensland for a very long time. Florence herself was a member of the Australian Senate from 1981 to 1993.
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Early Life in Brisbane
Florence Isabel Gilmour was born in Brisbane, Queensland. She was the older of two daughters. Her father was an accountant.
Florence grew up in a Brisbane suburb called New Farm. She went to New Farm State School. Later, she attended the well-known Brisbane Girls' Grammar School.
After school, she worked as a private secretary. She met Johannes Bjelke-Petersen while working for the Queensland Commissioner for Main Roads. He was a politician at the time. They got married on May 31, 1952.
Becoming a Public Figure
For many years, Florence focused on her home and family. This was especially true after her husband, Joh Bjelke-Petersen, became the Premier of Queensland in 1968.
In the 1970s, Florence started to take on a more public role. People in Queensland really liked her. She became known for her simple, friendly sayings. She was also famous for her delicious pumpkin scones and often shared her recipes.
Joining the Australian Senate
In 1980, Florence Bjelke-Petersen was chosen to run for the Australian Senate. Her husband, Joh, helped her get the top spot on the National Party's list for Queensland. This meant she was almost certain to be elected.
Her term was supposed to start on July 1, 1981. However, a Senator from Queensland resigned early. So, Florence was appointed to fill that spot on March 12, 1981. She then continued into her own elected term. She served as a Senator until 1993.
During her time in the Senate, she sometimes voted differently from her own party. This is called "crossing the floor." She did this 18 times, which was quite a lot for a politician.
Lady Bjelke-Petersen
In 1984, her husband, Joh Bjelke-Petersen, received a special honour. He was given a knighthood, which meant he became "Sir Joh." Because of this, Florence became "Lady Bjelke-Petersen."
Officially, she was known as "Senator Lady Bjelke-Petersen." However, many people, including the media, often called her "Lady Florence" or "Lady Flo." While "Lady Flo" was not the correct formal title for the wife of a knight, it became a very popular nickname for her.
Later Years in Politics
Lady Bjelke-Petersen was re-elected to the Senate in 1983 and 1987. Her time as a Senator ended on June 30, 1993.
In Canberra, the capital city where Parliament meets, Lady Bjelke-Petersen was well-liked. Even politicians who disagreed with her husband respected her. Her speeches in the Senate often focused on issues important to Queensland. They were usually not about big political arguments.
Her Passing
On December 20, 2017, Florence Bjelke-Petersen passed away at the age of 97. She had been ill for a short time. She died in Kingaroy, Queensland, where she had lived in an aged care home since 2014.
The Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull, and the Premier of Queensland, Annastacia Palaszczuk, offered to hold a state funeral for her. Her son, John Bjelke-Petersen, accepted this offer. The funeral was held in the Kingaroy Town Hall.
Cookbook and Pumpkin Scones
Lady Bjelke-Petersen was famous for her cooking. She published a cookbook that included her much-loved recipe for pumpkin scones. These scones became her special trademark.
