Leneen Forde
The Honourable Leneen Forde AC |
|
---|---|
22nd Governor of Queensland | |
In office 29 July 1992 – 29 July 1997 |
|
Monarch | Queen Elizabeth II |
Premier | Wayne Goss (1992–96) Rob Borbidge (1996–97) |
Preceded by | Sir Walter Campbell |
Succeeded by | Peter Arnison |
Personal details | |
Born | Mary Marguerite Leneen Kavanagh 12 May 1935 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
Spouse(s) | Francis Gerard Forde |
Alma mater | University of Queensland |
Occupation | Solicitor |
Mary Marguerite "Leneen" Forde AC (born 12 May 1935 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada[1]) is the former Chancellor of Griffith University and served as the twenty–second Governor of Queensland from 1992 until 1997.[2] Forde chaired the Commission of Inquiry into Abuse of Children in Queensland Institutions during 1998 and 1999 that found systemic child abuse in government or non-government institutions between 1911 and 1999.
Contents
Early years and background
Forde was born Mary Marguerite Leneen Kavanagh and worked as a medical laboratory technician[2] and studied part-time for a Bachelor of Arts before moving to Australia in 1954. In 1955, she married (Francis) Gerald Forde, the son of the Right Honorable Frank Forde PC, a former Prime Minister of Australia and High Commissioner to Canada.[3] Together, the Fordes had five children.[4] She worked in the Haematology Department of Royal Brisbane Hospital for two years prior to full-time legal study following her husband's death in 1966. She graduated a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Queensland in 1970 and from 1971 was employed as a solicitor.[2] From 1974 to 1992, she was a partner of Cannan & Peterson, in charge of probate and estates.[citation needed]
Vice-Regal appointment
In 1992, Forde was only the second woman to be appointed to the position of governor of an Australian state and the first to take on the role in Queensland.[4]
Forde remarried a retired detective superintendent from New South Wales Police, Angus McDonald. McDonald served as Vice-Regal Consort and was the first male spouse of a Governor in Australia. Forde retired as Governor in 1997.
Forde Inquiry
In 1998, Forde was appointed to chair the Commission of Inquiry into Abuse of Children in Queensland Institutions.[2] Forde handed the report to the Queensland Government in May 1999. The Inquiry covered 159 institutions from 1911 to 1999 and found abuse had occurred and made 42 recommendations relating to contemporary child protection practices, youth justice and redress of past abuse. The Inquiry resulted in reconciliation initiatives including apologies, commemorative memorials and events, establishment and delivery of the Queensland Government Redress Scheme, establishment of the Forde Foundation Trust Fund, and establishment of community-based support services.[5][6]
Honours
On 26 January 1993, Forde was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia in recognition of her service to the law, to improving the status of women and to economic and business development.[7] Forde is a Dame of Grace in the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. She was International President of Zonta from 1990 until 1992,[2] and 1991 Queenslander of the Year.[8]
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
- Forde, Mary Marguerite Leneen (Leneen) in The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in the Twentieth Century
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Government offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by | Governor of Queensland 1992–1997 |
Succeeded by Peter Arnison |
- Use British English from October 2011
- Use dmy dates from October 2011
- Articles with unsourced statements from February 2010
- 1935 births
- Canadian emigrants to Australia
- Canadian people of Irish descent
- Companions of the Order of Australia
- Dames of Grace of the Order of St John
- Governors of Queensland
- Living people
- People from Ottawa
- University and college chancellors
- Griffith University people
- Women academic administrators