Sonja M.L. DAVIES, Member of Parliament. Order of New Zealand; Honorary Doctor of Laws, Victoria University. adviser New Zealand Childcare Association.
Background
Sonja Vile was born in the Upper Hutt suburb of Wallaceville in 1923. Her mother was Gwladys Ilma Vile, a nurse, and a granddaughter of Job Vile. Sonja Vile only learned of her father"s identity, the Irish army major Gerald Dempsey, when she was 20, but never made any contact.
Education
King Edward Technical College, Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand. Spoken languages: English.
Career
Nine years local government. Nelson City Council; Dep-Chairwoman, Nelson Hospital Board. Founder, NZ Working Women’s Council.
Coorganiser NZ Working Women’s Convention, 1977. She has served on the NZ Federation of Labour Executive, vice-President 1981-1987. Represented the Federation of Labour at the Working Women’s Conference, 1978, and at the Conference on problems of rural workers, 1979.
Led the NZ delegation to the World Peace Conference, 1986. Justice of the Peace. Founder. New Zealand Childcare Association.
Professional career: industrial adviser, Wellington Shop Employees’ Union. Assistant secretary/organiser, NZ Public Service Associate. Regional representative, NZ Food Processing Union and Wellington Clerical Union.