Leneen Forde facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leneen Forde
AC DStJ
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| 22nd Governor of Queensland | |
| In office 29 July 1992 – 29 July 1997 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Premier | Wayne Goss Rob Borbidge |
| Preceded by | Sir Walter Campbell |
| Succeeded by | Peter Arnison |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Mary Marguerite Leneen Kavanagh
12 May 1935 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Spouses |
Gerald Forde
(m. 1955; died 1966)Angus McDonald
(m. 1983; died 1993) |
| Relations | Frank Forde (father-in-law) |
| Alma mater | University of Queensland |
| Occupation | Solicitor |
Mary Marguerite Leneen Forde (born 12 May 1935) is a retired lawyer. She was the 22nd Governor of Queensland from 1992 to 1997. She also led an important investigation into the safety of children in Queensland.
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About Leneen Forde
Leneen Forde was born Mary Marguerite Leneen Kavanagh in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She moved to Australia in 1954. Before becoming a lawyer, she worked as a medical laboratory technician.
In 1955, she married Gerald Forde. His father, Frank Forde, was a former Prime Minister of Australia. Leneen and Gerald had five children together. After Gerald's death in 1966, Leneen decided to study law full-time.
Becoming a Lawyer
Leneen Forde earned her law degree from the University of Queensland in 1970. From 1971, she worked as a solicitor, which is a type of lawyer. She became a partner at a law firm called Cannan & Peterson. She worked there from 1974 to 1992.
Before becoming Governor, Leneen Forde was also the international president of Zonta International. This is a group that works to improve the lives of women. She held this role from 1990 to 1992.
Governor of Queensland
In 1992, Leneen Forde was chosen to be the Governor of Queensland. This was a very important role. She was only the second woman ever to become a governor in an Australian state. The first was Dame Roma Mitchell in South Australia.
As Governor, Leneen Forde represented the Queen in Queensland. She helped make sure the government worked smoothly. She was also the first Australian governor to have a male spouse. Her husband, Angus McDonald, served as the vice-regal consort. Leneen Forde finished her term as Governor in 1997.
The Forde Inquiry
After her time as Governor, Leneen Forde took on another very important job. In 1998, she was asked to lead a special investigation. This was called the Commission of Inquiry into Abuse of Children in Queensland Institutions. It is often known as the Forde Inquiry.
The Inquiry looked into how children were treated in many institutions in Queensland. These included government and non-government places, from 1911 to 1999. The Inquiry found that children had been harmed.
Helping Children and Families
Leneen Forde gave her report to the Queensland Government in May 1999. The report looked at 159 different places. It made 42 suggestions to help protect children better in the future. It also suggested ways to help those who had been harmed in the past.
Because of the Forde Inquiry, many good things happened:
- The government said sorry to those who were harmed.
- Memorials and events were held to remember what happened.
- A special program was set up to help people who had been harmed.
- A fund called the Forde Foundation Trust Fund was created.
- New support services were started to help children and families in the community.
The Forde Inquiry was a big step towards making sure children are safe and supported in Queensland.
Awards and Honours
Leneen Forde has received many awards for her important work.
- On 26 January 1993, she was made a Companion of the Order of Australia. This was to recognise her work in law, helping women, and supporting business.
- She is also a Dame of Grace in the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.
- In 1991, she was named Queenslander of the Year.
