Alison Alison

Background

Alison Worstead was born in 1915 in Molong, New South Wales.

Education

She was educated at Domremy Convent, Five Dock, Sydney and gained a Diploma of Social Studies at the University of Sydney.

Career

She was a marriage guidance counsellor and administrator prior to his appointment. She died soon into Kerr"s term at Yarralumla, and he remarried a few months later. She was known as "Peggy" to her family and friends.

Peggy Worstead married John Kerr on 4 November 1938, in Street James" Church, King Street, Sydney, the same year in which he was admitted to the New South Wales Bar.

During World World War II she worked with the Family Welfare Bureau and the Australian Imperial Forces Women"s Association, and later Secretary of the Hospital Almoners" Institute. In 1965 she suffered a stroke occasioned by an upper arachnoid haemmorhage, which paralysed her left side and left her with a speech disability.

However, she rose above these challenges to continue her work as a marriage guidance counsellor and to serve on Lifeline"s Adoption Committee. Shortly before his appointment as Governor-General of Australia was announced on 27 February 1974, she had had a serious fall which sprained an ankle and fractured a wrist.

Shortly after the announcement she was diagnosed with a serious illness (details were never revealed), but she was well enough to travel to London for Sir John and her to be received by the Queen.

Upon her husband"s swearing-in as Governor-General on 11 July 1974, they took up residence in Government House, Canberra. But her illness caused her to be admitted to hospital in Sydney on 22 July and again on 29 August. In between these treatments she returned to Admiralty House, and Sir John Kerr transferred some engagements there so that he could be close to her.

On 9 September 1974 she died in the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney.

She was cremated at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium later the same day, following a private service at Street James Church. A public memorial service was held on 12 September at Street James Church.

There were formal tributes to Lady Kerr in the Australian Parliament and the New South Wales Parliament. Sir John Kerr remarried in April 1975, to Anne Robson.

Lady Anne Kerr reinstated the practice.

Achievements

• In 1954 she was invited to become a marriage guidance counsellor, by the Rev W. G. Coughlan, the founder and first director of the Marriage Guidance Council of New South Wales.