biography
| name: |
Rankin, Dame Annabelle (Jane Mary)
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| sex:
| female
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| lived:
| (1908–86)
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| biography:
| Australian stateswoman, born in Brisbane, Queensland, NE Australia. She became the first Queensland woman to enter federal politics, as a senator for the state in 1946. The first woman whip in the British Commonwealth, serving as Opposition whip (1947–9) and government whip (1951–66), she was also the first Australian woman of ministerial rank, holding the housing portfolio (1966–71), and Australia's first woman head of a diplomatic mission, as high commissioner to New Zealand (1971–4). She was created a dame in 1957. |
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