Elaine Darling

Elaine Darling
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Lilley
In office
18 October 1980  8 February 1993
Preceded by Kevin Cairns
Succeeded by Wayne Swan
Personal details
Born 6 June 1936
Brisbane, Queensland
Nationality Australian
Political party Australian Labor Party
Spouse(s) Robert Darling
Children Vicky Darling Russell Darling
Occupation Teacher

Elaine Elizabeth Darling (born 6 June 1936) is a retired Australian politician.

Early life

Born in Brisbane, she attended the University of Queensland before becoming a teacher, eventually rising to an assistant to the Director of the Brisbane Kindergarten Training College.

Politics

In 1980, she was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Labor member for Lilley, defeating the sitting Liberal MP Kevin Cairns. She was the fifth woman elected to the House of Representatives, and the second female Labor member of that House (the first was Joan Child). She held Lilley until her retirement in 1993.[1]

In 2000-2004, she was a council member of the City of Caloundra.[2]

Family political connections

Her father Jack Melloy was a long serving member of the Australian Labor Party and member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland. Her daughter, Vicky Darling, is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland.

References

  1. Carr, Adam (2008). "Australian Election Archive". Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
  2. "The Melloy Family: a Labor Dynasty" (PDF). Retrieved 19 January 2015.
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
Kevin Cairns
Member for Lilley
1980 1993
Succeeded by
Wayne Swan