De Merindol, Mary Justine (1939 - )

Mary De Merindol is a long term supporter of the Australian Democrats and represented them in the 1995 election to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Vaucluse and in the Legislative Council elections of 2003.

• Gladstone (maiden name)

Mary De Merindol was born in London and educated at a convent school, which she left, at year 11, to go to Italy and learn Italian, a pursuit she has maintained ever since.
She married Peter De Merindol in 1960, and they have four children. They emigrated to Australia in the 1960s, and Mary worked at many jobs, including as a secretary to the Chief Engineer of Bushells Tea, in various legal offices and as an organiser of conferences for Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick.

Mary was elected to the committee of The Paddington Society in 2003, and is also a member of the Refugee Council of Australia, ChilOut, A Just Australia and Australians for native Title and Reconciliation. She is actively involved in providing support to refugees held in detention centres. She remains an active member of the Australian Democrats and with her husband now runs a bed and breakfast establishment in Paddington.