Ellnor Judith Grassby (née Louez; born 14 January 1937) is a former Australian politician who served as a member of the multi-member single constituency unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, representing the Labor Party between 1989 and 1995. Grassby served as Minister for Housing and Urban Services in the First Follett Ministry.

Ellnor Grassby
Minister for Housing and Urban Services
In office
16 May 1989 – 5 December 1989
Preceded bynew Ministry
Succeeded byTrevor Kaine
Member of the ACT Legislative Assembly
In office
4 March 1989 – 18 February 1995
Succeeded byMulti-member multiple constituencies
Personal details
Born
Ellnor Judith Louez

(1937-01-14) 14 January 1937 (age 87)
Griffith, New South Wales
NationalityAustralian
Political partyLabor Party
SpouseAl Grassby AM
ChildrenGabriella Davis
OccupationPolitician
[1][2][3][4]

Biography

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Born in Griffith, New South Wales, in 1962 Ellnor Louez married Al Grassby,[5] who was elected as the Labor Member for Murrumbidgee in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1965, before being elected as the federal Labor Member for Riverina in the House of Representatives in 1969.[6] Prior to entering politics, Ellnor Grassby was employed in the accreditation of nurses, owned and managed hotels, and was a volunteer fundraiser and board member for a number of non-profit organisations.[2][7]

Ellnor Grassby was elected to the inaugural ACT Legislative Assembly at the 1989 general election,[2] and re-elected to the second Assembly at the 1992 general election.[7] Grassby contested the multi-member electorate of Ginninderra at the 1995 general election, but was unsuccessful.[8] She served as the Minister for Housing and Urban Services in the First Follett Ministry, during 1989; however was not appointed to subsequent Labor ministries.

During 2003–2005, Grassby served on the Chief Minister's Ministerial Advisory Council on Multicultural Affairs.[9]

She was a board member of Naming Australia Incorporated, a community organisation comprising representatives from the Spanish community, the Embassy of Spain in Australia, the business community and the ACT government who organisated celebrations for the 400th anniversary, in 2006, of Spanish contribution to the history and naming of Australia.[10]

Following the 2005 death of Al Grassby, media reports revealed that Ellnor Grassby was aware that her husband had lovers. However, she rejected allegations that the couple had separated thirty years earlier.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Louttit, Anne; Louttit, John (1989). Who's Who in Canberra. C.E.S.L. Support Services Pty Ltd. p. A-71. ISSN 1032-710X.
  2. ^ a b c "Members of the First Assembly" (PDF). Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory. September 1990. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  3. ^ Stephens, Tony (25 April 2005). "Grassby's legacy of tolerance, diversity". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  4. ^ "Appendix 7: Chronological list of ministries" (PDF). Companion to Standing Orders. Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory. 2008. p. 344. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  5. ^ a b Walsh, Kerry-Anne (8 May 2005). "Al Grassby's double life". The Sun-Herald. Archived from the original on 9 May 2005. Retrieved 10 December 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ "Whitlam government minister Al Grassby dies". The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 April 2005. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  7. ^ a b "Members of the Second Assembly" (PDF). Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory. April 1993. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  8. ^ "Electorate of Ginninderra Distribution of preferences". 1995 election. ACT Electoral Commission. 1998. Archived from the original on 28 February 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  9. ^ "Annual Report 2004-2005" (PDF). ACT Department of Disability, Housing & Community Services. 2006. p. 271. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  10. ^ "Board". Naming Australia Incorporated. 2009. Archived from the original on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
Political offices
New title Minister for Housing and Urban Services
1989
Succeeded by
Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
New title Member of the ACT Legislative Assembly
1989–1995
Served alongside: Berry, Collaery, Connolly, Duby, Follett, Humphries, Jensen,
Kaine, Kinloch, Maher, Moore, Nolan, Prowse, Stefaniak, Stevenson, Wood, Whalan
Succeeded by
Multi-member multiple constituencies