Dame
Pattie Menzies
GBE
Menzies in 1963
Spouse of the Prime Minister of Australia
In office
19 December 1949 – 26 January 1966
Preceded byElizabeth Chifley
Succeeded byDame Zara Holt
In office
26 April 1939 – 29 August 1941
Preceded byEthel Page
Succeeded byIlma Fadden
Personal details
Born
Pattie Maie Leckie

(1899-03-02)2 March 1899
Alexandra, Victoria, Colony of Victoria
Died30 August 1995(1995-08-30) (aged 96)
Canberra, Australia
Resting placeMelbourne General Cemetery
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1920; died 1978)​
Children4

Dame Pattie Maie Menzies GBE (2 March 1899 – 30 August 1995) was the wife of Australia's longest-serving Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies.

Biography

Menzies was born as Pattie Maie Leckie at Alexandra, Victoria, the eldest daughter of John Leckie, a Deakinite Liberal who was elected the member for Benambra in the Victorian Legislative Assembly in 1913. He won the federal seat of Indi in 1917. Pattie usually accompanied her father on electorate tours until he lost his seat in 1919.

Pattie Leckie attended Fintona Girls' School in Melbourne, and during this time saw Robert Menzies, but they were not formally introduced until 1919. After they met, Menzies became a regular visitor at her father's home. On 27 September 1920 they were married at Kew Presbyterian Church in Melbourne. Soon after their marriage, the Menzies bought the house in Howard Street, Kew, which would become their family home for 25 years. They had three surviving children: two sons and a daughter. Another child died at birth.

Her father was elected to the Senate in 1934, serving until 1947. In 1940 he was appointed Minister without portfolio in his son-in-law's ministry, and later Minister for Aircraft Production.[1][2]

Robert and Pattie Menzies in London in 1938

Honours

In the 1954 New Year Honours, Pattie Menzies was appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire.[3][4] The official citation read: "In recognition for her years of incessant and unselfish performance of public duty in hospital work, in visiting, addressing and encouraging many thousands of women in every State of Australia, including very remote areas, and in the distinguished representation of Australia on a number of occasions overseas". Her husband was knighted in 1963.

Other

In the 1967 America's Cup challenge, the Australian syndicate headed by Sir Frank Packer raced an International 12-metre class racing yacht which was named Dame Pattie in her honour.

Sir Robert Menzies died in 1978. In 1992 Dame Pattie moved back to Melbourne from Canberra to live with her daughter, Heather Henderson. She was a founding member and first patron of the Australian Monarchist League.

Death

Grave of Sir Robert and Dame Pattie Menzies, Melbourne General Cemetery

Dame Pattie Menzies died in Canberra on 30 August 1995, aged 96.[5] Her ashes were interred alongside her husband within the 'Prime Ministers Garden' at Melbourne General Cemetery.[6] She was survived by her daughter, Heather Henderson, having outlived not only her husband but both of her sons.

Then Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating described Dame Pattie, upon her death, as “a very great Australian” and an inspiration to fellow Australians.

This is in contrast to Dame Pattie, not long before her death, had described Keating as "a monster" and "a disgrace".[7]

Honours

References

  1. ↑ Browne, Geoff (1986). "Leckie, John William (1872–1947)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
  2. ↑ "Leckie, John William". re-member. Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
  3. ↑ It's an Honour website
  4. 1 2 "No. 40054". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1954. p. 40.
  5. ↑ Richard Yallop (6 September 1995). "OBITUARY: Dame Pattie Menzies". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022.
  6. ↑ Death of Dame Pattie Menzies Archived 13 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ "An end and a beginning". The Australian. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  8. ↑ "COMMONWEALTH LIST". The Age. Victoria, Australia. 6 May 1935. p. 10. Retrieved 7 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ↑ "THE FEDERAL LIST". The Age. Victoria, Australia. 12 May 1937. p. 13. Retrieved 7 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ↑ "CORONATION MEDAL LIST". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 2 June 1953. p. 5. Retrieved 7 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia.

Sources

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