• Entry type: Person
  • Entry ID: AWE1277

Jayawardena, Yvonne

  • Birth name Schroeder, Yvonne
(1926 – 2022)
  • Born 6 May, 1926, Luxembourg
  • Died 3 December, 2022, Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
  • Occupation Health researcher, Local government councillor, Nurse, Political candidate

Summary

An activist for health, equality and the Australian Democrats. Candidate for Vaucluse in 1991, for the House of Representatives, Wentworth in 1984 and 1987, and Councillor for Waverley Municipal Council from 1987 to 1991.

Details

At the time of her State campaign (1991) Yvonne Jayawardena was a widow, with one son, and was working as a researcher in health services at the University of NSW. She had previously had a career in nursing care and health administration, and had been awarded the Queen’s silver medal for nursing. She was particularly opposed to discrimination on the grounds of race, sex or religion, and was in favour of increased participation by citizens in the decisions that affected their lives. She was a keen environmentalist. While a councillor , she served on the NSW executive of Australian Local Government Women’s Association. She continued to take an interest in public affairs in later life and made submissions to Senate committees of enquiry.

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