Ellnor Grassby

Ellnor Grassby
Minister for Housing and Urban Services
In office 16 May 1989 – 5 December 1989
Preceded by	new Ministry
Succeeded by	Trevor Kaine
Member of the ACT Legislative Assembly
In office 4 March 1989 – 18 February 1995 Serving with Berry, Collaery, Connolly, Duby, Follett, Humphries, Jensen, Kaine, Kinloch, Maher, Moore, Nolan, Prowse, Stefaniak, Stevenson, Wood, Whalan
Succeeded by	Multi-member multiple constituencies
Personal details
Born	Ellnor Judith Louez 14 January 1937 Griffith, New South Wales
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Spouse(s)	Al Grassby AM
Children	Gabriella Davis
Occupation	Politician
[1][2][3][4]

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

Biography

Born in Griffith, New South Wales, Ellnor Louez married Al Grassby in 1962,^[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 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] Grassby 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

• First Follett Ministry
• Al Grassby

References

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. "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. 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.
6. "Whitlam government minister Al Grassby dies". The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 April 2005. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
7. "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. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
9. "Annual Report 2004-2005" (PDF). ACT Department of Disability, Housing & Community Services. 2006. p. 271. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
10. "Board". Naming Australia Incorporated. 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2010.