Fraser, Tamie (1936–)

views updated

Fraser, Tamie (1936–)

Australian prime-ministerial wife. Born Tamara Margaret Beggs, Feb 28, 1936, in Adelaide, South Australia; m. Malcolm Fraser (prime minister of Australia, 1975), 1956; children: 4.

Deputized for her ailing husband during the crucial election campaign (Dec 1975); was considered an asset on the campaign trail for Liberal Party, taking a prominent role in federal election campaigns (1975, 1977, 1980, and 1983); was the 1st prime-ministerial wife to have an official secretary; thought to have wielded a great deal of power; as 1st president of the Australiana Fund, undertook major renovations to The Lodge (the official prime-ministerial residence, 1978).

See also Christina Hindhaugh's It Wasn't Meant to be Easy: Tamie Fraser in Canberra (Lothian, 1986) and Diana Langmore, Prime Ministers' Wives (McPhee Gribble, 1992).

More From encyclopedia.com