Aust. High Commissioner on first visit

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32660, 16 July 1971, Page 6

Aust. High Commissioner on first visit

The first woman Australia has appointed as a high commissioner is Dame Annabelle Rankin, High Commissioner in New Zealand, who says she prefers to consider herself an Australian citizen first and a woman second.

In Christchurch yesterday, on her first visit to the city for 20 years, Dame Annabelle Rankin said that she had held this attitude throughout her political career.

She said she was in New Zealand to represent Australia over-all. “This appointment is for me one of great challenge. After 20 years in the Australian Senate, I am really enjoying it,” she said. Asked whether being single was something of a handicap on the diplomatic social scene, Dame Annabelle Rankin said that she had not found it so. Rather, there seemed to be more offers of assistance than perhaps would be the case for a married high commissioner. Originally Dame Annabelle Rankin expected the pace of her new position to be reasonably leisurely but so far it has been hectic. “I find our .office in Wellington is a

busy place all the time,” she said.

Dame Annabelle Rankin said that she enjoyed work but liked photography as a hobby and was interested in dog obedience training. Development in New Zealand since she was last here 20. years ago on a series of speaking engagements was spectacular and was similar to national growth in Australia, she said. Dame Annabelle Rankin

expressed pleasure that the man who had taken her seat in the Australian Senate was “Mr N. T. Bonner, the first aboriginal to be appointed to the Senate. He’s a first-class person. I believe he. will do a very good job for Queensland.” Mr Bonner had already done a great deal for his race through his presidency of O.P.A.L. (One People For Australia League). He represents all the people of Queensland not just his race. Dame Annabelle Rankin’s primary purpose in coming to the South Island is to be guest speaker at the 1971 national housing convention of the Master Builders’ Federation in Christchurch today. One of her major achievements as Australia’s Minister of Housing was the setting aside over a five-year period

by the Federal Government of s2sm to,; assist State’ ■ Governments in their provision of housing for 'single' pensioners./ ‘ ’ Dame' Annabelle Rankin was met at Christchurch Airport early yesterday afternoon by the Australian Trade Commissioner for the South Island. (Mr A. R. Tayson) and the Christchurch airport manager (Mr A. I. R. Jamieson).

Gift for pool,— The chairman of the Lyttelton Swimming Pool Committee, Captain W. V. Wood has received a cheque for $343.67 for the pool fund as a joint donation .from the Lyttelton Lions Club and the Lyttelton Club. The money was raised at a combined tug-of-war carnival, held in Lyttelton.