An Active Family

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30219, 26 August 1963, Page 2

An Active Family

Miss Jessie Robertson, international president of the Pan Pacific and South-east Asia Women's Association, brought greetings from her mother, Mrs Agnes Robertson, to New Zeeland members, when she addressed the Christchurch area group on Saturday. Mrs Robertson led the Australian delegation to the international conference held in Christchurch in 1952. Mrs Robertson retired from the Australian Senate last year, a few days before she celebrated her 80th birthday.

Mrs Robertson represented Western Australia for 12 j years. After she completed tier term last year she flew to London and made an extensive tour to find the repercussions of Britain's attempt to join the European Economic Community. Her husband was editor of the Western Australian newspaper now called the “Countryman,” and was formerly editor of the Melbourne “Age.” Miss Robertson’s brother was for many years active in the police boys' clubs movement, an organisation aimed at keeping boys off the streets.

Miss Robertson herself is active in a vast number of organisations and has held office in many of them. They include the Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, in which she has served in many official capacities. She is currently chairman of the international theme committee of the international federation. She is the West Australian president of the Aus-tralia-Asian Association; a member of the Australian Council of the International Institute for the Prevention of Alcoholism; and is a vicepresident and past State president of the Australian National Council of Women. She is a past president of the Australian-Maltese Association; federal president of the Country Party of Australia; holds an executive position in she Freedom from Hunger Campaign, and is a member of several other organisations.

Miss Robertson was to have toured New Zealand with her mother last year, but Senator Robertson was taken ill in the early stages of the Dominion tour and they had to return to Australia.