Anne Kerr, Lady Kerr
Encyclopedia
Anne Kerr, Lady Kerr was the second wife
of Sir John Kerr, Governor-General of Australia
1974-77. They were married during his term of office, six months after his first wife had died.
. In 1935 she was awarded a French Government travelling scholarship and gained her Master of Arts
from the Sorbonne
, Paris
. She appeared as an official French-English interpreter at more than 30 international conferences over ten years, including Colombo Plan
meetings. On one occasion she interpreted for Jawaharlal Nehru
at a United Nations
human rights seminar in New Delhi
. She was also fluent in German.
In 1941 she married Hugh Walker Robson QC, a barrister, who was appointed to the bench in 1970. He was Judge of the New South Wales District Court and Chairman of the Court of Quarter Sessions. They had a son and a daughter. At one time he had made a bid for Liberal Party
preselection for the federal seat of Warringah
.
After the end of World War II
, she acted as an interpreter for the Department of External Affairs
for visiting French delegations.
In 1966 she was the first Australian to become a member of the International Association of Conference Interpreters.
Her marriage to Robson was dissolved in early 1975. It was reported that "strings had been pulled" to ensure her quick divorce from Robson and an avoidance of publicity. Shortly afterwards, in the Scots Kirk, Mosman
, she married the Governor-General, Sir John Kerr, becoming the second Lady Kerr; Sir John was a widower, his first wife Allison (née Worstead) having died on 10 September 1974, two months after he took up the post at Yarralumla
.
She was privy to her husband's thoughts and anxieties as the 1975 constitutional crisis developed, but in his autobiography Matters for Judgement (1978) Sir John Kerr strongly denied she had either dissuaded him from warning the Prime Minister
Gough Whitlam
that he was going to dismiss him, or that she herself had a political axe to grind. The Kerrs moved to England in 1977 after the widespread public criticism of his acceptance of the ambassadorship to UNESCO
, a post he was forced to relinquish before taking it up.
Her memoirs, Lanterns Over Pinchgut, describe her extensive international experience.
Lady Kerr died in 1997 after a long battle with cancer. She was survived by her two children and four grandchildren.
Spouse of the Governor-General of Australia
The Spouse of the Governor-General of Australia generally assists the office-holder in welcoming ambassadors and their spouses, and in performing their other official duties. The Governor-General's spouse traditionally participates in celebratory occasions, attends functions and, as a patron of...
of Sir John Kerr, Governor-General of Australia
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
1974-77. They were married during his term of office, six months after his first wife had died.
Biography
Anne Dorothy Taggart was born in 1914. She was known as Nancy to her friends. She was an honours graduate from the University of SydneyUniversity of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
. In 1935 she was awarded a French Government travelling scholarship and gained her Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
from the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. She appeared as an official French-English interpreter at more than 30 international conferences over ten years, including Colombo Plan
Colombo Plan
The Colombo Plan is a regional organization that embodies the concept of collective inter-governmental effort to strengthen economic and social development of member countries in the Asia-Pacific Region...
meetings. On one occasion she interpreted for Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
at a United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
human rights seminar in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
. She was also fluent in German.
In 1941 she married Hugh Walker Robson QC, a barrister, who was appointed to the bench in 1970. He was Judge of the New South Wales District Court and Chairman of the Court of Quarter Sessions. They had a son and a daughter. At one time he had made a bid for Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
preselection for the federal seat of Warringah
Division of Warringah
The Division of Warringah is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It is located in the Northern Beaches region of Sydney, and covers most of the land between Middle Harbour and the Pacific Ocean. It extends from Port Jackson in the south to the suburb of Dee Why in the...
.
After the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, she acted as an interpreter for the Department of External Affairs
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia)
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is a department of the government of Australia charged with advancing the interests of Australia and its citizens internationally...
for visiting French delegations.
In 1966 she was the first Australian to become a member of the International Association of Conference Interpreters.
Her marriage to Robson was dissolved in early 1975. It was reported that "strings had been pulled" to ensure her quick divorce from Robson and an avoidance of publicity. Shortly afterwards, in the Scots Kirk, Mosman
Mosman, New South Wales
Mosman is a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Mosman is located 8 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Municipality of Mosman.-Localities:In February...
, she married the Governor-General, Sir John Kerr, becoming the second Lady Kerr; Sir John was a widower, his first wife Allison (née Worstead) having died on 10 September 1974, two months after he took up the post at Yarralumla
Yarralumla
Yarralumla may refer to:* Government House, Canberra, the residence of the Governor-General of Australia known as Yarralumla* Yarralumla, Australian Capital Territory, a suburb of Canberra* Yarralumla Primary School...
.
She was privy to her husband's thoughts and anxieties as the 1975 constitutional crisis developed, but in his autobiography Matters for Judgement (1978) Sir John Kerr strongly denied she had either dissuaded him from warning the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
that he was going to dismiss him, or that she herself had a political axe to grind. The Kerrs moved to England in 1977 after the widespread public criticism of his acceptance of the ambassadorship to UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
, a post he was forced to relinquish before taking it up.
Her memoirs, Lanterns Over Pinchgut, describe her extensive international experience.
Lady Kerr died in 1997 after a long battle with cancer. She was survived by her two children and four grandchildren.
Sources
- Brilliant mind and charming manner, Norman Abjorensen, Canberra Times, 20 September 1997
- Obituary: Lady Kerr, Sydney Morning Herald, 20 September 1997.
- National Library of Australia: Hugh Robson interviewed by John Farquharson in the Law in Australian Society oral history project