Sharon Claydon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sharon Claydon
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| Member of the Australian Parliament for Newcastle |
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| Assumed office 7 September 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Sharon Grierson |
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| Born | 26 April 1964 Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party |
| Residence | Newcastle |
| Occupation | Anthropologist Politician |
Sharon Catherine Claydon was born on April 26, 1964. She is an Australian politician and a member of the Labor Party. Since September 2013, she has represented the area of Newcastle in New South Wales. She serves in the Australian House of Representatives, which is part of Australia's national parliament.
Early Life and Adventures
Sharon Claydon was born in Camperdown, New South Wales. Her dad, Kevin, was a soldier in the Australian Army. Sharon first went to school at Holsworthy Barracks, a military base. After her father finished serving in Vietnam in 1970, her family moved to Bermagui. There, she learned to ride horses. Later, they moved to New Lambton Heights, a suburb of Newcastle, where she attended Lambton High School.
After high school, Sharon started studying at the University of Sydney. However, she soon returned to Newcastle. Through a job center, she found work at Helen Springs Station in the Northern Territory. This was a big cattle station! She started as a gardener but then learned to be a "jillaroo," which is like a trainee cowgirl, and also worked as a camp cook.
After a few years, Sharon came back to New South Wales. She worked helping people with disabilities on the South Coast. She then went back to university and earned a special degree in anthropology. Anthropology is the study of human societies and cultures. She also started working on a PhD about political representation in the Bunuba Aboriginal community, moving to Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia. She spent about ten years working in remote Aboriginal communities before returning to Newcastle.
Getting Involved in Politics
Sharon Claydon joined the Labor Party in 1999. She worked for other politicians, helping them with their jobs. She was also part of many important committees within the Labor Party. In 2008, she was elected to the Newcastle City Council, which is the local government for Newcastle.
Working in Parliament
In July 2012, Sharon Claydon announced she wanted to become the Labor Party's candidate for the Newcastle area. She was a popular choice among local party members. She was elected to the Australian House of Representatives in the national election held in 2013.
Since 2015, Sharon Claydon has been on the "speaker's panel." This means she can help the Speaker of the House of Representatives manage debates and keep order. She has also been a deputy leader of a special committee that looks into the National Redress Scheme. This scheme helps people who were hurt in institutions like schools or churches when they were children. Sharon has spoken out to raise awareness for these victims. She is also a member of the Labor Left, which is a group within the Labor Party.
In July 2022, after the Labor Party won the national election, Sharon Claydon was chosen to be the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. This is a very important role in parliament.
Personal Life
Sharon Claydon is a supporter of the Stockton Historical Society, which helps preserve local history. She has also served as the treasurer for the Newcastle Aboriginal Support Group.
