Margaret Reid

Portrait Anecdotes
by Heide Smith

The Sitting

 

I had known Margaret Reid  and her husband for some time, and had photographed her at numerous official functions. At a recent Australian Citizenship Ceremony at the Australian National Library, it was Senator Reid who had presented me with my certificate. So when her office rang and asked me if I could take her portrait, I was more than happy to accept the commission.

The shoot took place in my Canberra studio. I used a main light with a softbox and a second light on the background. Margaret is a very warm person, and this was the quality that I tried to capture with my camera. I always tell my sitters not to worry about smiling, because the smile has to come spontaneously, or not at all. When I had the expression that I wanted, I said something that caused the reaction you see in the photograph. In other words, don't say "smile", say something amusing. This is my favorite portrait of Margaret, and whilst the image is fairly composed, the expression is not.

 

The Sitter

 

Margaret Reid retired on 14 February 2003 after twenty two years as the Senator for the ACT in the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia. She was selected by the Liberal Party to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator John Haslem, and was formally appointed by a joint sitting of the two houses on 5 May 1981.Her re-election in eight consecutive elections earned her the title of the longest serving ACT representative in Federal Parliament.

As a Canberran myself during most of that period, I can vouch for the high regard in which Margaret was held by the community, in what was a predominately Labour electorate.

This is not surprising when you consider that she has been patron to more than eighty ACT associations of all persuasions, but particularly those working for the elderly, the young, and women’s interests. As ACT Senator Kate Lundy said; “Margaret’s reputation has been built up over years of service to the community. Whether through service clubs, charities, religious or community groups, she has a reputation for being there when needed, and being everywhere at the same time”.

Margaret Elizabeth MacLachlan was born on 28 May 1935 in Crystal Brook, South Australia. She was educated at MLC Adelaide and Adelaide University, graduating as a barrister and solicitor in

 

Margaret Reid

the Sitter - continued

1959. After practicing law in SA for five years, she moved to Canberra, where she met Tom Reid, whom she married in 1967, taking on the added role of becoming mother to Tom’s four children. Margaret continued to practice law in Canberra until 1981, specializing in family law after 1975.

Margaret had shown an early interest in politics, joining the Liberal Party in 1954. She revealed signs of what was to follow by becoming the first female President of Adelaide University
Liberal Club, Adelaide University Debating Society and the Australian Universities Liberal Federation. From 1958-59 she was President of the SA Young Liberals. Her involvement in politics continued in Canberra with the ACT Liberal Party, where she held a number of senior positions. Soon after entering the Senate, Margaret was appointed Deputy Government Whip, and in 1983 Deputy Opposition Whip, a position she held for four years.

From 1987 she was opposition Whip until 1995, when she became the first female Deputy President and Chair of Committees of the Senate. One year later, Margaret was appointed as the first female President of the Senate. Senator John Faulkner said of her time as President, “I learnt very quickly that you could do business with Margaret. Margaret was always on the ball, she was reliable and she was trustworthy… I do not think you can speak more highly of a political opponent”.During her long and distinguished career, Margaret Reid was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal, the Order of Polonia Restituta, the Centenary Medal, and the Liberal Party Distinguished Service Award.

 

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