Anne McEwen (DBE)
Encyclopedia
Dame Anne Mills McEwen DBE
(1900–10 February 1967), known as Annie McEwen, was an Australian social activist, and the wife of John McEwen
(who after her death became Prime Minister of Australia
). She was active in the Country Party
and devoted her life to working for the public good. She was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 1 January 1966 for public services.
Born in Tongala, Victoria
as Anne Mills McLeod, she was educated at Girton Church of England Girls' Grammar School in Bendigo
. She married John McEwen on 21 September 1921 at Ballavoca, Tongala
. They had no children. She was an experienced farmer and with her husband, developed the soldier settler property. They sold it and bought others to eventually hold 3000 acres (12 km²) in the Stanhope
area.
A skilled organiser, she raised funds for local causes and was an active member of the Country Women's Association
in Victoria
. She was appointed a Life Governor of Melbourne's Prince Henry Hospital for her many years of voluntary work there. She was also an active figure in the Country Party
and remained so in the period of McEwen's expulsion from the party from 1938 to 1943. She spoke at women's meetings and was a key organiser in the Country Party during the early stages of her husband's political career.
She drove thousands of miles through Victoria to political meetings while her husband worked on his speeches in the back seat of his car. He was elected to the Federal Parliament
in 1934 as member for Echuca
. He later held the seats of Indi
from 1937-1949 and Murray
from 1949-1971, when he retired from politics. He became leader of the Country Party in 1958.
When John McEwen was Minister for Air, Anne McEwen arranged for the care of young Royal Australian Air Force
recruits from other states who were training at the Flying School
at Point Cook
. She continued this work during the war and took over an old mansion in the Melbourne suburb of Toorak
as a recreation centre. Anne McEwen was also a founding member of the White Wings Auxiliary, a group formed to support the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force
(WAAAF), established in 1941 when her husband was Minister for Air.
(DBE) in recognition of her long and active service in public life and for country people. An invalid for many years, she received the award from the Governor-General
Lord Casey
at a private investiture at her home in Toorak.
ship of Australia
for three weeks after the disappearance of Harold Holt
in December 1967.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(1900–10 February 1967), known as Annie McEwen, was an Australian social activist, and the wife of John McEwen
John McEwen
Sir John "Black Jack" McEwen, GCMG, CH , was an Australian politician and the 18th Prime Minister of Australia...
(who after her death became Prime Minister of Australia
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...
). She was active in the Country Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
and devoted her life to working for the public good. She was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 1 January 1966 for public services.
Born in Tongala, Victoria
Tongala, Victoria
Tongala is a small town between Kyabram and Echuca in the Goulburn River valley in northern Victoria, Australia, part of the Shire of Campaspe. At the 2006 census, Tongala had a population of 1623.-History:...
as Anne Mills McLeod, she was educated at Girton Church of England Girls' Grammar School in Bendigo
Bendigo, Victoria
Bendigo is a major regional city in the state of Victoria, Australia, located very close to the geographical centre of the state and approximately north west of the state capital Melbourne. It is the second largest inland city and fourth most populous city in the state. The estimated urban...
. She married John McEwen on 21 September 1921 at Ballavoca, Tongala
Tongala, Victoria
Tongala is a small town between Kyabram and Echuca in the Goulburn River valley in northern Victoria, Australia, part of the Shire of Campaspe. At the 2006 census, Tongala had a population of 1623.-History:...
. They had no children. She was an experienced farmer and with her husband, developed the soldier settler property. They sold it and bought others to eventually hold 3000 acres (12 km²) in the Stanhope
Stanhope, Victoria
Stanhope is a small town in north central Victoria, Australia. Stanhope is from Shepparton. It lies north of the state capital Melbourne and south east of Canberra the capital city of Australia...
area.
A skilled organiser, she raised funds for local causes and was an active member of the Country Women's Association
Country Women's Association
The Country Women’s Association of Australia is the largest women's organisation in Australia. It has 44,000 members across 1855 branches. Its aims are to improve the conditions for country women and children and to try to make life better for women and their families, especially those women...
in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. She was appointed a Life Governor of Melbourne's Prince Henry Hospital for her many years of voluntary work there. She was also an active figure in the Country Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
and remained so in the period of McEwen's expulsion from the party from 1938 to 1943. She spoke at women's meetings and was a key organiser in the Country Party during the early stages of her husband's political career.
She drove thousands of miles through Victoria to political meetings while her husband worked on his speeches in the back seat of his car. He was elected to the Federal Parliament
Parliament of Australia
The Parliament of Australia, also known as the Commonwealth Parliament or Federal Parliament, is the legislative branch of the government of Australia. It is bicameral, largely modelled in the Westminster tradition, but with some influences from the United States Congress...
in 1934 as member for Echuca
Division of Echuca
The Division of Echuca was anAustralian Electoral Division in Victoria.The division was created in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It was abolished in 1937. It was named for the town of Echuca. It was located in the Murray Valley area,...
. He later held the seats of Indi
Division of Indi
The Division of Indi is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. It is located in north-eastern Victoria. Its northern border is formed by the Murray River...
from 1937-1949 and Murray
Division of Murray
The Division of Murray is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria. It is located in the north of the state, adjoining the Murray River, which forms Victoria's border with New South Wales...
from 1949-1971, when he retired from politics. He became leader of the Country Party in 1958.
When John McEwen was Minister for Air, Anne McEwen arranged for the care of young Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
recruits from other states who were training at the Flying School
RAAF Williams
RAAF Williams comprises the two bases of Point Cook and Laverton. Both establishments previously existed as separate RAAF Bases until 1999 when they were amalgamated to form RAAF Williams...
at Point Cook
Point Cook, Victoria
Point Cook is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 25 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham. At the 2006 Census, Point Cook had a population of 14,162, now it is estimated that the population of Point Cook is 32,167...
. She continued this work during the war and took over an old mansion in the Melbourne suburb of Toorak
Toorak, Victoria
Toorak is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 5 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district located on a rise on the south side of a bend in the Yarra River. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stonnington...
as a recreation centre. Anne McEwen was also a founding member of the White Wings Auxiliary, a group formed to support the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force
Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force
The Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force was formed in March 1941 after considerable lobbying by women keen to serve and by the Chief of the Air Staff who wanted to release male personnel serving in Australia for service overseas. The WAAAF was the first and largest of the World War II...
(WAAAF), established in 1941 when her husband was Minister for Air.
DBE
On 1 January 1966, Anne McEwen was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(DBE) in recognition of her long and active service in public life and for country people. An invalid for many years, she received the award from the Governor-General
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...
Lord Casey
Richard Casey, Baron Casey
Richard Gardiner Casey, Baron Casey KG GCMG CH DSO MC KStJ PC was an Australian politician, diplomat and the 16th Governor-General of Australia.-Early life:...
at a private investiture at her home in Toorak.
Death
Anne McEwen died at home in Toorak on 10 February 1967. She did not live to see her husband assume the Prime MinisterPrime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
ship of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
for three weeks after the disappearance of Harold Holt
Harold Holt
Harold Edward Holt, CH was an Australian politician and the 17th Prime Minister of Australia.His term as Prime Minister was brought to an early and dramatic end in December 1967 when he disappeared while swimming at Cheviot Beach near Portsea, Victoria, and was presumed drowned.Holt spent 32 years...
in December 1967.