Janet Powell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Janet Powell
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| 3rd Leader of the Australian Democrats | |
| In office 1 July 1990 – 19 August 1991 |
|
| Deputy | John Coulter |
| Preceded by | Michael Macklin |
| Succeeded by | John Coulter |
| Senator for Victoria | |
| In office 26 August 1986 – 30 June 1993 |
|
| Preceded by | Don Chipp |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Janet Frances McDonald
29 September 1942 Nhill, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 30 September 2013 (aged 71) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Political party | Green (after 2004) |
| Other political affiliations |
Democrat (until 1992) Independent (1992–2004) |
| Spouses |
Alan Powell
(m. 1965; div. 1988) |
| Domestic partners | Sid Spindler (esp. 1987; sep. 1992) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Nhill High School Queen's Church of England Grammar School |
| Alma mater | University of Melbourne |
| Occupation | School teacher (Kerang High School) (Nhill High School) (Department of Education) |
| Profession | Academic Politician |
Janet Frances Powell AM (born McDonald) was an important Australian politician. She was born on 29 September 1942 and passed away on 30 September 2013. She was known for her work as a Senator and as a leader of the Australian Democrats party.
Janet grew up in Nhill, a town in Victoria. She went to Ballarat Grammar School and Nhill High School. Later, she studied at the University of Melbourne. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Diploma of Education. After finishing her studies, she worked as a high school teacher. She taught at Kerang High School and Nhill High School.
Contents
Janet Powell's Political Journey
Janet Powell became very active in politics during the 1980s. She joined the Australian Democrats party. This party was known for focusing on environmental issues and social justice.
Becoming a Senator
Janet served as the Victorian state president for the Democrats from 1983 to 1985. She was also a national deputy president from 1984 to 1986. In 1986, she became a Senator for Victoria. A Senator is a person elected to represent their state in the Australian Parliament. She took over from the party's founder, Don Chipp.
She was officially elected as a Senator in 1987. She served a six-year term in the Australian Senate.
Leading the Australian Democrats
On 1 July 1990, Janet Powell became the third leader of the Australian Democrats. She led the party for over a year. During her time as leader, she worked hard to make the party more visible.
In August 1991, she was replaced as leader due to disagreements within the party. The party's founder, Don Chipp, was very sad about this change.
Working as an Independent Senator
After losing the leadership, Janet decided to leave the Australian Democrats in 1992. She continued to serve as an independent Senator. This meant she was not part of any political party. She worked on important issues until the 1993 election.
As an independent, she worked with politicians from different parties. She helped pass a law that banned tobacco advertising in print. She also worked on issues like fairness for all people.
Joining the Greens
In 1996, Janet supported Bob Brown, who was the leader of the Australian Greens party. In 2004, she officially joined the Australian Greens. She believed they could make a big difference in Australian politics. She even ran for election for the Greens in 2006, but she was not successful.
Helping the Community
Janet Powell was also dedicated to helping her community. She was a member of the Patrons Council for the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria. She was also a Life Member of YWCA Victoria. The YWCA helps young women and girls.
In 2000, she was honored for her community work. She was named to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women. In 2012, she received the Member of the Order of Australia award. This award recognized her service to the people of Australia. It especially highlighted her leadership at YWCA Victoria.
