Gracia Baylor
Encyclopedia
Hilda Gracia Baylor AM
(born 8 October 1929 in Brisbane
) is a retired Australia
n politician. Baylor was one of the first two women elected to the Victorian Legislative Council
in 1979, the other being Joan Coxsedge
.
Gracia was born in Brisbane
, her father was in the military and the family eventually settled in Victoria
. She studied fine art and teaching, and taught in secondary schools until she married. Following her first marriage she worked as a law clerk and managed one of her husbands three law practices (Richard Baylor).
She became interested in local government when she nocticed the lack of a kindergarten near her home. She was elected to the Healesville Shire council in 1966, and became Shire president from 1977 to 1978, she was the first female Shire predident in Victoria. In 1979 she and Joan Coxsedge
were the first women elected to the Victorian Legislative Council. She held her seat until 1985 when she resigned to contest a seat in the Legislative Assembly, her bid was unsuccessful.
She has continued to be involved in women's issues, including a term as the president of the National Council of Women (1997–2000).
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 8 October 1929 in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
) is a retired 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...
n politician. Baylor was one of the first two women elected to the Victorian Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
in 1979, the other being Joan Coxsedge
Joan Coxsedge
Joan Marjorie Coxsedge is an Australian artist, activist, and a former politician. She was one of the first two women elected to the Victorian Legislative Council in 1979....
.
Gracia was born in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, her father was in the military and the family eventually settled 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 studied fine art and teaching, and taught in secondary schools until she married. Following her first marriage she worked as a law clerk and managed one of her husbands three law practices (Richard Baylor).
She became interested in local government when she nocticed the lack of a kindergarten near her home. She was elected to the Healesville Shire council in 1966, and became Shire president from 1977 to 1978, she was the first female Shire predident in Victoria. In 1979 she and Joan Coxsedge
Joan Coxsedge
Joan Marjorie Coxsedge is an Australian artist, activist, and a former politician. She was one of the first two women elected to the Victorian Legislative Council in 1979....
were the first women elected to the Victorian Legislative Council. She held her seat until 1985 when she resigned to contest a seat in the Legislative Assembly, her bid was unsuccessful.
She has continued to be involved in women's issues, including a term as the president of the National Council of Women (1997–2000).