Bjelke-Petersen
Encyclopedia
Bjelke-Petersen is the name of an Australia
n family of both Danish and Swedish descent. The common ancestors of the Australian family is Georg Peter Bjelke-Petersen, a Danish farmer and master-builder, and his wife Caroline Vilhelmine (maiden name Hansen). They came to Australia with their children in 1891. Born plain Petersen, Georg hyphenated his name some time in the 1860s.
, at both state and Commonwealth levels, for 60 years.
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...
n family of both Danish and Swedish descent. The common ancestors of the Australian family is Georg Peter Bjelke-Petersen, a Danish farmer and master-builder, and his wife Caroline Vilhelmine (maiden name Hansen). They came to Australia with their children in 1891. Born plain Petersen, Georg hyphenated his name some time in the 1860s.
Politics
The Bjelke-Petersens have had an impact on politics in QueenslandQueensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, at both state and Commonwealth levels, for 60 years.
- Sir Joh Bjelke-PetersenJoh Bjelke-PetersenSir Johannes "Joh" Bjelke-Petersen, KCMG , was an Australian politician. He was the longest-serving and longest-lived Premier of Queensland, holding office from 1968 to 1987, a period that saw considerable economic development in the state...
was a farmer and later Premier of Queensland between 1968 and 1987; He was the member for NanangoElectoral district of NanangoThe district of Nanango is an electoral division in the state of Queensland, Australia.Nanango was the original seat of Sir Joh-Bjelke Petersen . In the 2006 legislative election, incumbent member Dorothy Pratt beat off a strong challenge by the late Bjelke-Petersen's son John to retain the seat...
from 1946 to 1950 and for BarambahElectoral district of BarambahBarambah was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland from 1950 to 2001.The district was based in the South Burnett region. It is best known for being the seat of long-serving Premier, Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen....
from 1950 to 1987. He was Georg Peter Bjelke-Petersen's grandson.
- Flo Bjelke-PetersenFlo Bjelke-PetersenFlorence "Flo" Isabel, Lady Bjelke-Petersen is an Australian retired politician and writer. She was a member of the Australian Senate from 1981 to 1993, and is the widow of the longest-serving Premier of Queensland, Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen.-Biography:Born as Florence Isabel Gilmour in Brisbane,...
, Joh Belke-Petersen's wife, represented Queensland in the Australian SenateAustralian SenateThe Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
between 1981 and 1993 serving as Deputy Leader of the National Party of AustraliaNational Party of AustraliaThe 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...
in the Senate between 1985 and 1990;
- John Bjelke-Petersen, Joh Bjelke-Petersen's son, was preselected on 3 November 2005 as the candidate in the seat of Nanango at the 2006 state election for the National PartyNational Party of AustraliaThe 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...
. He lost the election to the current member, Dorothy PrattDorothy PrattDorothy Ruth "Dolly" Pratt is an Australian politician. Born in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, she was a Justice of the Peace and coffee shop proprietor in Queensland before entering politics. She also worked at cattle sale yards. In 1998, she was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly as...
.
Other pursuits
- Hans Bjelke-Petersen (1872-1964) founded the Bjelke-Petersen School of Physical CulturePhysical culturePhysical culture is a term applied to health and strength training regimens, particularly those that originated during the 19th century. During the mid-late 20th century, the term "physical culture" became largely outmoded in most English-speaking countries, being replaced by terms such as...
in 1892 - as of 2005, there were 180 associated clubs throughout Australia. He was Georg Peter Bjelke-Petersen's son.
- Marie Bjelke PetersenMarie Bjelke PetersenMarie Caroline Bjelke Petersen was a Danish-born Australian novelist and physical culture teacher. She wrote nine popular romance novels between 1917 and 1937...
(1874-1969) was an Australian novelist. Note the lack of hyphen in her version of this name. She was Georg Peter Bjelke-Petersen's daughter.