Mary Porter (politician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mary Porter AM is a Labor member of the ACT Assembly. She was first elected to the Assembly in October 2004. Prior to that, she was CEO of the Volunteering Association (now Volunteering ACT) from 1993 until October 2004

Born in the United Kingdom, Mary arrived in Australia when she was 12. In 1963 Mary graduated as a Nurse from Woolongong Hospital and went on to work in New South Wales, Queensland and in the Aboriginal Community of Oenpelli, Northern Territory.

In 1967 she again graduated from Woolongong Hospital, this time as a Midwife. Mary returned to the Northern Territory and used her Midwifery skills in many remote and isolated Aboriginal community's before accepting the role of sister in charge of the Dhupuma Residential College for Aboriginal students in Gove. In 1979 Mary moved to Canberra and a change of career working for the Federal Member for Canberra, Ros Kelly.

Mary represents the electorate of Ginninderra and is a member of ACT Labor's Right Faction Center Coalition.