Dorothy Isaksen
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Isaksen, née Shepherd (born 13 April 1930) is a former Australia
n politician. She was a Labor
member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
from 1978 to 1988 and from 1990 to 1999.
She was born in North Sydney
, the daughter of Edward Chapman Shepherd, a foreman, and his wife Beatrice Taylor. She was educated at Catholic
convents at Lavender Bay
and Penrith
before attending the Metropolitan Business College in 1945. She was employed in the Valuer General's Department 1946–50 and the Family Welfare Bureau 1952–55, working as a stenographer. In 1952 she married Neville Isaksen, with whom she had two daughters.
Isaksen joined the Australian Labor Party
in 1955, and held various positions on the Youth Council Executive (1957–58), the New South Wales Central Executive (1970–71) and the Administration Committee (1976–79). She was President of the New South Wales Labor Women's Committee 1973–79 and Secretary (1977–79) and President (1975–77) of the National Labor Women's Committee. She was the first woman state organiser for the Labor Party. In 1978 she was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council
, serving until her defeat in 1988. She returned to the Council in 1990, when she was appointed to the casual vacancy caused by the resignation of Deirdre Grusovin
. She served as Government Whip from 1995 to 1999, when she retired from politics. She was made a life member of the Labor Party in 2002.
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 politician. She was a Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
from 1978 to 1988 and from 1990 to 1999.
She was born in North Sydney
North Sydney, New South Wales
North Sydney is a suburb and commercial district on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. North Sydney is located 3 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of North Sydney...
, the daughter of Edward Chapman Shepherd, a foreman, and his wife Beatrice Taylor. She was educated at Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
convents at Lavender Bay
Lavender Bay, New South Wales
Lavender Bay is a harbourside suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Lavender Bay is located 3 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of North Sydney Council....
and Penrith
Penrith, New South Wales
Penrith is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Penrith is located west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Penrith...
before attending the Metropolitan Business College in 1945. She was employed in the Valuer General's Department 1946–50 and the Family Welfare Bureau 1952–55, working as a stenographer. In 1952 she married Neville Isaksen, with whom she had two daughters.
Isaksen joined the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
in 1955, and held various positions on the Youth Council Executive (1957–58), the New South Wales Central Executive (1970–71) and the Administration Committee (1976–79). She was President of the New South Wales Labor Women's Committee 1973–79 and Secretary (1977–79) and President (1975–77) of the National Labor Women's Committee. She was the first woman state organiser for the Labor Party. In 1978 she was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
, serving until her defeat in 1988. She returned to the Council in 1990, when she was appointed to the casual vacancy caused by the resignation of Deirdre Grusovin
Deirdre Grusovin
Deirdre Mary Grusovin was a member of the New South Wales Parliament for twenty five years.Grusovin was born Deirdre Mary Brereton in Sydney, and is the sister of influential former politician Laurie Brereton....
. She served as Government Whip from 1995 to 1999, when she retired from politics. She was made a life member of the Labor Party in 2002.