Ratcliffe, Margaret (1933 - )

Margaret Ratcliffe is a committed Christian activist. She first stood for election in 1995 as a Call to Australia party candidate in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly elections for Gordon. This was followed by two attempts at obtaining the seat of Bradfield in the House of Representatives in 1996 and 1998. The following year she changed political allegiance and contested the seat of Denison on behalf of the Christian Democrat Party.

Margaret Ratcliffe was born in Sydney and educated at the Presbyterian Ladies College and the University of Sydney. She practised her profession of physiotherapy in Lane Cove for 38 years. She married in 1959 and had three sons. She has been a member of the Sydney Philharmonic Choir.

Margaret Ratcliffe had lived on the North Shore all her life, and although previously a Liberal Party member, by 1995, had joined the Christian Democratic Party because of her concern about youth unemployment and lack of strong moral leadership. Her Christian activities included Sunday School teaching and scripture teaching in public schools.