Helen Westwood
Encyclopedia
Helen Westwood is an Australia
n politician and Australian Labor Party
member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
. Westwood has been a member of the Council since 24 March 2007.
. Westwood married Bob in 1973, and they have two daughters and four grandchildren.
She attended Catholic schools, but in her final year she attended Birrong Girls High School along with fellow politician Lynda Voltz
.
She began her working life at 15 years of age and she has had a variety of jobs including shop assistant, accounting machinist, clerical assistant, stay-at-home mum, community worker and electorate officer.
Westwood was previous married and is currently in a same-sex relationship.
She was a Councillor of Bankstown City Council between 1995 and 2007. She was its Deputy Mayor between 1997 and 1998, and between September 2002 to May 2006, she was the Mayor of Bankstown. She claims to be the first mayor of Bankstown to be elected to the New South Wales Parliament. She was a Board Member of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils
(WSROC) since 2001 and Chair from 2004 to 2005. She was also a member of the Executive of the New South Wales Local Government Association. She was a Director of the Board of Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation from 1996 to 2007.
In 2006, she resigned as Mayor to become an adviser to State Fisheries Minister Ian MacDonald
as a prelude to her nomination on the Labor Party ticket for the Legislative Council.
She was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council in 2007. She received the twelfth highest quota for the Council. Westwood is from the left faction of the Labor Party.
In 2008, she was one of a number of Australian politicians who backed besieged politician Belinda Neal
Shortly after her election, she raised allegations about politician Paul Gibson assaulting fellow MP Sandra Nori resulting in Gibson standing down from the Ministry whilst the allegations were investigated.
In 2006, she was made a Member of the Order of Australia
for her services to Local Government.
In 2007, she was commended in the Women of the West Award for her commitment and dedication to improving social balance, equity, opportunity and community harmony.
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 and 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...
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...
. Westwood has been a member of the Council since 24 March 2007.
Personal and early life
Westwood was born to Harry and Cecily Wray. Her brother David is known in the music industry as crooner Frank BennettFrank Bennett
Frank Bennett is an Australian jazz singer whose stage name is formed from Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett...
. Westwood married Bob in 1973, and they have two daughters and four grandchildren.
She attended Catholic schools, but in her final year she attended Birrong Girls High School along with fellow politician Lynda Voltz
Lynda Voltz
Lynda Voltz is an Australian politician and Australian Labor Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Council. Voltz has been a member of the Council since March 2007....
.
She began her working life at 15 years of age and she has had a variety of jobs including shop assistant, accounting machinist, clerical assistant, stay-at-home mum, community worker and electorate officer.
Westwood was previous married and is currently in a same-sex relationship.
Political career
Westwood joined the Bargo-Picton Branch of the Australian Labor Party in 1976 (and which is now subsumed into the Wollondilly Branch). She became the Secretary of the Sefton Branch in 1977.She was a Councillor of Bankstown City Council between 1995 and 2007. She was its Deputy Mayor between 1997 and 1998, and between September 2002 to May 2006, she was the Mayor of Bankstown. She claims to be the first mayor of Bankstown to be elected to the New South Wales Parliament. She was a Board Member of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils
Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils
Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils is one of the oldest Regional Organisations of Councils or ROCs in NSW, Australia. It was formed in November 1973 to represent the councils of Western Sydney and to advocate for the people of the region...
(WSROC) since 2001 and Chair from 2004 to 2005. She was also a member of the Executive of the New South Wales Local Government Association. She was a Director of the Board of Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation from 1996 to 2007.
In 2006, she resigned as Mayor to become an adviser to State Fisheries Minister Ian MacDonald
Ian Macdonald (New South Wales politician)
Ian Michael Macdonald BA MLC , a former Australian politician, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1988 to 2010 representing the Australian Labor Party...
as a prelude to her nomination on the Labor Party ticket for the Legislative Council.
She was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council in 2007. She received the twelfth highest quota for the Council. Westwood is from the left faction of the Labor Party.
In 2008, she was one of a number of Australian politicians who backed besieged politician Belinda Neal
Belinda Neal
Belinda Jane Neal , a former Australian federal politician, was a Member of the House of Representatives representing the electorate of Robertson between 2007 and 2010; and representing the state of New South Wales in the Senate from 1994 to 1998, both of behalf of the Australian Labor...
Shortly after her election, she raised allegations about politician Paul Gibson assaulting fellow MP Sandra Nori resulting in Gibson standing down from the Ministry whilst the allegations were investigated.
Awards
In 2001, she was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001 for service to Local Government.In 2006, she was made a Member of the Order of Australia
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"...
for her services to Local Government.
In 2007, she was commended in the Women of the West Award for her commitment and dedication to improving social balance, equity, opportunity and community harmony.