Spouse of the governor-general of Australia

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The spouse of the governor-general of Australia (also 'vice-regal spouse') generally assists the governor-general in welcoming ambassadors and foreign dignitaries and their spouses, and in performing their other official duties. The governor-general's spouse traditionally participates in celebratory occasions and state visits and trips, attends social and state functions and major events, often to accompany the governor-general, and, as a patron of various voluntary associations in their own right, works to promote the activities of those associations. [1] These activities do not have an official status, and the vice-regal spouse is not remunerated directly by the Commonwealth Government—spouses and families of the governor-general indirectly benefit through the package of income and benefits received by the governor-general (including to reside in the vice-regal residences in Yarralumla and Kirribilli). The current spouse (since 1 July 2024) is His Excellency Simeon Beckett SC, husband of Governor-General Sam Mostyn AC.

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Both the governor-general and spouse are entitled to the style of address "Her/His Excellency" during the governor-general's term of office, but not thereafter. Governors-general are entitled to the additional style "The Honourable" during their term and retain it for life thereafter; spouses are not so entitled.

Except for Dame Quentin Bryce and Sam Mostyn, Australian governors-general have been male. Michael Bryce, husband of Dame Quentin Bryce, and the spouse of the current Governor-General, Simeon Beckett, are the only two males to have served in this role. There has not been an appointment of a governor-general with a same-sex spouse.

Every governor-general has, at the time of appointment, been in a spousal-type relationship. No governor-general has been single for the whole of their time in office, but two spouses died during their husband's governor-general term: Jacqueline Sidney, Viscountess De L'Isle, wife of William Sidney, 1st Viscount De L'Isle (1962); and Alison, Lady Kerr, wife of Sir John Kerr (1974). Kerr remarried during his term; De L'Isle remarried after his term had finished.

The longest-serving spouse has been Zara Hore-Ruthven, Countess of Gowrie, spouse of the longest-serving governor-general, Alexander Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie, who served nine years from 1936 to 1945. The shortest-serving spouse was Alison Morrison, Viscountess Dunrossil: she was wife of William Morrison, 1st Viscount Dunrossil until he died in office in 1961, one year and one day after his commencement. Dunrossil is the only governor-general to have died while in office; Viscountess Dunrossil lived until 1983.

Many spouses of governors-general have operated largely in 'behind-the-scenes' or spousal-support roles, providing the office-holder with companionship, counsel and support as they serve out their terms. Some have stayed out of the limelight and have thus remained unknown to the Australian public. However, some have been notable in their own right, and many have used their time to contribute significantly to the Australian community, to the work of Government House, and through it to the government of the nation.

Short biographical details of each spouse and details of their terms in office are shown in the following table; longer Wikipedia articles are hyperlinked where available.

List of spouses of governors-general of Australia

Governor-GeneralTerm startTerm endSpouseBornDiedNotes
John Hope,7th Earl of Hopetoun(later 1st Marquess of Linlithgow) [2] 1 January 19019 January 1903 Hersey Hope,Countess of Hopetoun 31 March 18673 April 1937Hope was the daughter of Dayrolles Eveleigh-de-Moleyns,4th Baron Ventry. She became the Marchioness of Linlithgow on 27 October 1902, [3] after the Hopetouns had left Australia (17 July) but while her husband was still formally the governor-general. [4]
Hallam Tennyson,2nd Baron Tennyson 9 January 190321 January 1904 Audrey, Lady Tennyson 19 August 1854 [5] 7 December 1916After Lady Tennyson's death in 1916, Lord Tennyson married again in 1918. Her diaries Audrey Tennyson's Vice-Regal Days were edited by Alexandra Hasluck, the spouse of a later governor-general, Paul Hasluck.
Henry Northcote,1st Baron Northcote 21 January 19049 September 1908Alice, Lady Northcote ?1 June 1934Lady Northcote was the adopted daughter of George Stephen, 1st Baron Mount Stephen. She was the first Patron of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. [6] She was created a Companion of the Order of the Crown of India in 1878, and a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1919.
William Ward,2nd Earl of Dudley 9 September 190831 July 1911 Rachel Ward, Countess of Dudley CBE 8 August 186826 June 1920Lady Dudley was instrumental in setting up the state-based Bush Nursing Scheme. [7] She drowned while swimming off the coast of Ireland, aged 51, in 1920. In 1924, Lord Dudley remarried, to Gertie Millar, a well-known actress and the widow of Lionel Monckton.
Thomas Denman,3rd Baron Denman 31 July 191118 May 1914 Gertrude, Lady Denman 7 November 18842 June 1954Lady Denman was active in women's rights issues including the promotion of women's suffrage in the United Kingdom. She named the city of Canberra and is commemorated in Lady Denman Drive in the national capital. In 1951, she was made a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE).
Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson 18 May 19146 October 1920Helen, Lady Munro Ferguson18659 April 1941Lady Munro Ferguson was the daughter of the Viceroy of India, Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood,1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava. She later became Viscountess Novar. She was appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) in 1918 for her wartime work with the British Red Cross.
Henry Forster,1st Baron Forster 6 October 19208 October 1925Rachel, Lady Forster187012 April 1962Lady Forster was the daughter of Henry Douglas-Scott-Montagu,1st BaronMontagu of Beaulieu. The Rachel Forster Hospital for Women in Sydney was named after her. [8] She was appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire in 1926.
John Baird,1st Baron Stonehaven 8 October 192521 January 1931Sydney Baird,Lady Stonehaven20 September 187421 September 1974Lady Stonehaven was the daughter of Arthur Keith-Falconer,10th Earl of Kintore. Following their departure from Australia, she became Viscountess Stonehaven. She acceded to the earldom of Kintore in her own right as the 11th Countess of Kintore in 1966. She died on the day after her 100th birthday, and at her death she was the oldest member of the House of Lords.
Sir Isaac Isaacs 21 January 193123 January 1936Daisy, Lady Isaacs1870 [9] June 1960 [10] Lady Isaacs had always been based in Melbourne, but relocated to Bowral, New South Wales after her husband's death. [9]
Alexander Hore-Ruthven,1st Baron Gowrie 23 January 193630 January 1945 Zara Hore-Ruthven,Lady Gowrie 20 January 187919 July 1965Lady Gowrie was involved in the provision of child care, and the Lady Gowrie Child Centres were named in her honour. She later became Countess of Gowrie. From the 1930s she was instrumental in advancing the career of the opera singer Joan Hammond, whose final public performance was at Lady Gowrie's funeral.
Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester 30 January 194511 March 1947Alice, Duchess of Gloucester 25 December 190129 October 2004The Duchess of Gloucester was an aunt of Elizabeth II. After her husband's death in 1974, she became known as Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester. She lived to age 102 and holds the record, previously held by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, as the longest-lived person in the history of the British Royal Family.
Sir William McKell [11] 11 March 19478 May 1953Mary, Lady McKell1893 [12] July 1985 [13] McKell was the eponym of the Lady McKell, a Sydney Harbour ferry which operated 1970–1993, [14] and is now the Victoria Star, a luxury cruise ship operating in Melbourne. [15]
Sir William Slim 8 May 19532 February 1960Aileen, Lady Slim19011993 [16] Lady Slim later became Viscountess Slim.
William Morrison,1st Viscount Dunrossil 2 February 19603 February 1961 (died)Allison Morrison,Lady Dunrossil [17]  ?26 March 1983Lady Dunrossil was born Catherine Allison Swan. Lord Dunrossil was the only governor-general to die in office. Lady Dunrossil consequently became the shortest-serving spouse of a governor-general.
William Sidney,1st ViscountDe L'Isle 3 August 19617 May 1965Jacqueline Sidney, Lady De L'Isle20 October 191415 November 1962Lady De L'Isle was the daughter of John Vereker,6th Viscount Gort. She was a Senior Commander in the Auxiliary Territorial Service in World War II. She died in 1962, during her husband's term as governor-general. In 1966 he married Margaret Shoubridge.
Richard, Lord Casey 7 May 196530 April 1969 Maie, Lady Casey AC 13 March 189220 January 1983Lady Casey was an aviator, writer, artist and opera librettist.
Sir Paul Hasluck 30 April 196911 July 1974Dame Alexandra Hasluck AD 26 August 190818 June 1993Lady Hasluck was a noted author, and editor of the diaries of one of her predecessors, Lady Tennyson. In 1978 she became the first Dame of the Order of Australia, and was known as Dame Alexandra Hasluck thereafter.
Sir John Kerr 11 July 19748 December 19771. Alison, Lady Kerr 29 July 1915 [18] 9 September 1974The first Lady Kerr died less than two months after Kerr's appointment as governor-general. Seven months later he married Anne Robson, who was the first Australian to be appointed a Member of the International Association of Conference Interpreters.
2. Anne, Lady Kerr 191416 September 1997
Sir Zelman Cowen 8 December 197729 July 1982Anna, Lady Cowen AM [19] 5 July 1925 [20] 10 June 2022 [20] Lady Cowen was the cousin of politician Walter Jona
Sir Ninian Stephen 29 July 198216 February 1989Valery Mary, Lady Stephen4 July 19253 November 2019 [21] née Sinclair
Bill Hayden 16 February 198916 February 1996Dallas Hayden AM [22] 28 September 1936 [23] 16 January 2024née Broadfoot
Sir William Deane 16 February 199629 June 2001Helen, Lady Deane [24] [25] 13 February 1936 [24] livingShe was educated at Kincoppal Convent in Sydney and Sydney University where she graduated in law. After graduation, she practised as a solicitor with the Sydney firm of Freehill, Hollingdale & Page.
Rev Peter Hollingworth 29 June 200128 May 2003Ann Hollingworth [26] 19 May 1936 [27] 13 April 2021Ann Hollingworth worked as an obstetric physiotherapist, specialising in turn in geriatrics, women's health and orthopaedics, finally working at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. She retired from practice in 1998.
Michael Jeffery 11 August 20035 September 2008Marlena Jeffery1944 [28] livingDuring her husband's numerous postings around Australia, to England and Papua New Guinea, Marlena Jeffery successfully lobbied for better housing and conditions for army families and established pre-school centres at Holsworthy and Enoggera Barracks. She was made a 'Citizen of Western Australia' for her work with charities during the years 1993–2000 when her husband was Governor of Western Australia. She was also appointed a Dame of Grace (DStJ) in the Order of St John.
Dame Quentin Bryce [29] 5 September 200828 March 2014 Michael Bryce AM AE 21 June 1938 [30] 16 January 2021Michael Bryce was a renowned graphic designer, whose work included the stylised "Opera House" logo for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. He was an adjunct professor of design at three tertiary institutions.
Sir Peter Cosgrove 28 March 20141 July 2019Lynne, Lady Cosgrove28 February 1948 [31] livingnée Payne
David Hurley 1 July 20191 July 2024Linda Hurley ?livingnée McMartin
Sam Mostyn 1 July 2024IncumbentSimeon Beckett ?Beckett is a barrister and, since 2022, a senior counsel. [32]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Australian Screen
  2. ↑ Hopetoun was created 1st Marquess of Linlithgow on 27 October 1902, while he was still formally governor-general, but after he had left Australia (17 July 1902).
  3. ↑ Lee, Sidney (20 May 2001). Dictionary of National Biography. Adegi Graphics LLC. ISBN   978-1-4021-7063-8 – via Google Books.
  4. ↑ Carroll, Brian (20 August 2004). Australia's Governors General: From Hopetoun to Jeffery. Rosenberg Publishing Pty, Limited. ISBN   978-1-877058-21-9 – via Google Books.
  5. ↑ "C. Leonard | AustLit: Discover Australian Stories". www.austlit.edu.au.
  6. ↑ "Melbourne Stage Online - A Century of Symphony". archive.ph. 30 May 2012. Archived from the original on 30 May 2012.
  7. ↑ "New Town Films". Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  8. ↑ "Rachel Forster Hospital Closure – 26 June 1996 – ADJ – NSW Parliament".
  9. 1 2 "Obituary - Lady Deborah (Daisy) Isaacs - Obituaries Australia". oa.anu.edu.au.
  10. ↑ "Michael Kirby, the Samuel Alexander Lecture, 4 August 2005" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  11. ↑ McKell was knighted during his term
  12. ↑ Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Archived 20 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑ "ABC Rural". www.abc.net.au. 18 August 2024.
  14. ↑ "Ferries of Sydney".
  15. ↑ "Melbourne Star Cruises". Archived from the original on 19 May 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  16. ↑ Persse, Michael D. De B. Collins. "Sir William Joseph Slim (1891–1970)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University – via Australian Dictionary of Biography.
  17. ↑ Smith, David I. "First Viscount Dunrossil (1893–1961)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University – via Australian Dictionary of Biography.
  18. ↑ Legislative Council of New South Wales, 17 September 1974, Death of Her Excellency Lady Kerr, Wife of the Governor-General: Address of Condolence, p. 1014. Retrieved 19 April 2014
  19. ↑ It's an Honour, 26 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015
  20. 1 2 "Vale Lady Anna Cowen". Arnold Bloch Leibler.
  21. ↑ "Valery Mary Stephen Death Notice". The Age . Nine Entertainment Co. 5 November 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  22. ↑ Stehle, Mark (25 January 2020). "Australia Day Honours 2020: Full list of recipients". Sydney Morning Herald . Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  23. ↑ "Unknown".[ permanent dead link ]
  24. 1 2 Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia Archived 20 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  25. ↑ "Australian Catholic Bishops Conference" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  26. ↑ "YWCAencore". Archived from the original on 13 September 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  27. ↑ "Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia". Archived from the original on 15 May 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  28. ↑ "Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia". Archived from the original on 15 May 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  29. ↑ Bryce was made a dame during her term
  30. ↑ Who's Who in Australia. ConnectWeb. 2019.
  31. ↑ Rieden, Juliet (December 2020). "A love story for the ages" (PDF). julietrieden.com. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  32. ↑ "Simeon Beckett SC". Maurice Byers Chambers. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
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