Sonia McMahon
Sonia McMahon | |
---|---|
Spouse of the Prime Minister of Australia | |
In office 10 March 1971 – 5 December 1972 | |
Preceded by | Bettina Gorton |
Succeeded by | Margaret Whitlam |
Personal details | |
Born | Sonia Rachel Hopkins 1 August 1932 Darlinghurst, New South Wales , Australia |
Spouse | |
Children | 3; including Julian |
Sonia Rachel McMahon, Lady McMahon (née Hopkins; 1 August 1932 – 2 April 2010),[1] was an Australian socialite and philanthropist. She was the wife of Sir Billy McMahon, who served as Prime Minister of Australia from 1971 to 1972, and the mother of actor Julian McMahon.
Early life and education
Sonia Rachel Hopkins was born at Borambil 86 Redmyre Road,
Career and marriage to William McMahon
Sonia Hopkins worked as an occupational therapist until 1965 when she married William (better known as Billy) McMahon, an aspiring politician in Sir Robert Menzies' government. She was 32, he 57. It was the only marriage for both. He became Prime Minister in 1971.[6]
Later that year, Sonia McMahon made world headlines after being photographed at the White House wearing a revealing dress in the company of her husband and United States president Richard Nixon. The white full-length dress featured see-through slits down both sides. The Washington Post described the dress as one of the most talked about items of clothing ever to be worn to the White House.[7] In later years (then Lady McMahon) she spoke to her biographer, commenting that her husband chose the dress and that it had "certainly made an impact".[8]
Their first two children (Melinda and
William McMahon was knighted in 1977, and she became Lady McMahon, although often still referred to as simply Sonia McMahon. She became a widow in 1988, and in the ensuing years she continued her philanthropic activities. She became a board member and patron of many charities, including the National Brain Foundation, the Sydney Children's Hospital Foundation, the Australian Cancer Research Foundation, the Microsearch Foundation and Australia's Sudden Infant Death Syndrome association.[citation needed]
Death and legacy
On 22 February 2009, McMahon was seriously injured after slipping on the stairs of a luxury pleasure boat owned by her friend, Paul Ramsay. She was taken to St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney suffering broken ribs, punctured lung, and multiple other bone fractures.[9] She was admitted to intensive care in March 2010 to undergo a procedure to clear her lungs of fluid.[8] While in hospital, Lady McMahon had been preparing for an appearance at the Golden Slipper horse racing event at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse on 2 April.[8]
McMahon died aged 77 on 2 April 2010, in Sydney's
Media outlets noted her work in contributing to the community by attending fundraisers for charity and different organisations including being on the board of the Sydney Children's Hospital as well as for her complete loyalty to her husband.[10] Lady McMahon's estate has been estimated to be worth $30 million in 2010, made up of real estate throughout New South Wales, which she inherited from her late husband.[11]
See also
- Spouse of the Prime Minister of Australia
References
- ^ a b "Lady Sonia McMahon dies in Sydney hospital". smh.com.au. 3 April 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
- ^ 86 REDMYRE ROAD Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ "McMahon left $10,000 by father-in-law". The Age. Google News Archive Search. 12 November 1974. p. 4. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "LATE MR. W. G. MATCHETT". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 29, 475. New South Wales, Australia. 23 June 1932. p. 10. Retrieved 3 August 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ SMH The merry widow who wowed a president Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ "Billy McMahon — Prime Ministers".
- ^ "Golden moment". The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 January 2005. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
- ^ a b c Obituary, dailytelegraph.com.au; accessed 15 September 2015.[dead link]
- ^ a b "Lady Sonia McMahon's health still poor after fall". The Daily Telegraph. 4 March 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
- ^ a b Obituary, smh.com.au; accessed 15 September 2015.
- ^ Hornery, Andrew (11 June 2010). "Sonia's $30m portfolio". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
External links
- Corbis image of revealing dress