Janet Hesketh
Janet Hesketh | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Born | 23 December 1934 |
| Died | 29 August 2018 |
| Alma mater | Wellington East Girls' College, Victoria University of Wellington |
| Awards | King's Service Medal, Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit |
Janet May Hesketh CNZM QSM (nee Janet May Mackenzie, 23 Dec 1934 – 29 Aug 2018) was a New Zealand women's leader. In 1988 she was awarded the Queen's Service Medal, and in 1996 she was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the National Council of Women (NCWNZ).
Early life and education
[edit]Hesketh was born on 23 December 1934 in Hamilton, to Lilian May Harris and electrical engineer Eric Bruce Mackenzie.[1][2][3] She attended primary school in Nelson, and then attended Wellington East Girls' College after the family moved to Wellington in 1946.[1] Hesketh graduated from Victoria University of Wellington in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science in geography.[4][1] Hesketh worked as a geography demonstrator and began studying for a master's degree. She also taught at Otago Girls' High School for a year. Hesketh did not finish her masters degree, passing her work on to others to finish when she had her first child.[1] She had married dentist Craig Hesketh in December 1957, and they had four children together.[5][1]
Work
[edit]Hesketh's husband did not want his wife to work, although she assisted in administration for his dental practice.[1] Through her children's activities, Hesketh became involved in time-keeping and judging for water polo and swimming, and in the Mother's Union (now the Association of Anglican Women) and Girl Guides.[1] Hesketh attended the Wellington branch meetings of NCWNZ as the representative of the Association of Anglican Women.[1] In 1981 Hesketh became convenor of the NCWNZ Parliamentary Watch Committee, and in 1984 she was elected national secretary of NCWNZ, a position she held for four years.[1] She was elected vice-president in 1988, and was president from 1994 to 1998, following on from Alison Roxburgh.[1] Hesketh said later that she was expected by her family to be at home, and would not have been president of NCWNZ without having earlier separated from her husband.[1] Hesketh attended the 1995 Beijing Conference on Women on NCWNZ's behalf.[1] Hesketh was concerned about women's reproductive rights, violence against women and matrimonial and de facto property law.[1][5]
Hesketh died on 29 August 2018, aged 83.[5]
Honours and awards
[edit]In the 1988 Queen's Birthday Honours Hesketh was awarded a Queen's Service Medal for public service.[6] In the 1996 Queen's Birthday Honours she was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the National Council of Women.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Hollingsworth, Randolph (24 September 2024). "NCWNZ Past President Janet Hesketh QSM, CNZM". National Council of Women of New Zealand. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
- ^ "Janet HESKETH Obituary (2018) - The Dominion Post". Legacy.com. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
- ^ Alister Taylor; Deborah Coddington, eds. (1994). Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. ISBN 978-0-908578-34-4. Wikidata Q96247228.
- ^ "NZ University Graduates 1870-1961". shadowsoftime.co.nz. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
- ^ a b c Manson, Bess (22 September 2018). "Council president wanted a better lot for all women". Waikato Times. Retrieved 22 November 2024 – via PressReader.
- ^ The London Gazette 51367 (PDF), The London Gazette, Wikidata Q109204996
- ^ "The Queen's Birthday Honours List 1996 | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC)". www.dpmc.govt.nz. 3 June 1996. Retrieved 22 November 2024.