• Entry type: Person
  • Entry ID: AWE4163

Bjelke-Petersen, Florence Isabel

(1920 – 2017)
  • Nationality Australian
  • Born 11 August, 1920, Brisbane Queensland Australia
  • Died 20 December, 2017, Kingaroy Queensland Australia
  • Occupation Parliamentarian, Secretary, Senator

Summary

A member of the National Party, Flo Bjelke-Petersen was elected Senator for Queensland in the Senate of the Australian Parliament in 1980. She held the position of Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 1985 until 1990 and retired from parliament in 1993. She was married to Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, who served as Premier of Queensland from 1968-87.

Details

Flo Bjelke-Petersen was educated at Brisbane Girls Grammar School and on leaving school worked in the Queensland Main Roads Department, and eventually became secretary to the Commissioner. She held that position from 1949-52. She married Joh Bjelke-Petersen in 1957. He received a knighthood in 1984, which meant a change of title for Flo. Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen died in 2005. As wife of the Premier of Queensland and later as a Senator, Flo Bjelke-Petersen became famous for her pumpkin scones.

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Published resources

Archival resources

  • National Library of Australia, Manuscript Collection
    • Class MS Acc13.034. Consignment Received 2013
  • John Oxley Library, Manuscripts and Business Records Collection
    • Joh and Flo Bjelke-Petersen on their wedding day, 1952
    • Senator Lady Florence Bjelke-Petersen, April 1987
  • National Library of Australia
    • [Biographical cuttings on Florence Bjelke-Petersen, wife of Sir Joh, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals]

Related entries


  • Related Concepts
    • Women in Politics: Minor Parties
  • Related Organisations
    • Brisbane Girls Grammar School (1875 - )