26 Facts About Rosemary Crowley

Rosemary Anne Crowley was an Australian politician and doctor who served as a senator for South Australia from 1983 to 2002, representing the Australian Labor Party.

Rosemary Crowley played a key role in launching the Premier's Cup for women's sport in South Australia and the Prime Minister's Cup for women's netball, reflecting her commitment to women's sports.

Rosemary Crowley led the government investigation into women, sport, and the media, which resulted in the creation of the Women's Sports Unit within the Sport Commission in Canberra.

Rosemary Crowley Anne Willis was born on 30 July 1938 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, as the second of six children to accountant Everard Joseph Willis and Monica Mary Willis.

Rosemary Crowley met James Raymond Crowley at university, where he studied law before switching to psychology, and they were married in 1964.

Rosemary Crowley received training as a family and children's counsellor in Berkeley.

From 1970 to 1971, Rosemary Crowley worked as a junior clinical assistant in the pediatrics medical department at Adelaide Children's Hospital.

Rosemary Crowley worked as a parent education counsellor at Clovelly Park Community Health Centre from 1975 to 1983, taught childbirth for the Mother and Babies Health Association from 1973 to 1983, and tutored at Flinders University Medical Department from 1975 to 1983.

Rosemary Crowley celebrated the Whitlam government's election in 1972 and experienced the heartbreak of its removal in 1975.

Rosemary Crowley contested the Mitcham seat in the South Australian House of Assembly against Australian Democrat Robin Millhouse in 1977 and 1979 but was unsuccessful.

Rosemary Crowley served as a delegate to the ALP State Council in 1979 and was a member of the ALP Women's Policy Steering Committee from 1979 to 1983, as well as a member of the Mental Health Review Tribunal in South Australia during the same period.

In 1982, Rosemary Crowley ran unsuccessfully for preselection to the Unley seat in the House of Assembly.

Rosemary Crowley was the last senator elected, taking a month to realise she had won a three-year term.

Rosemary Crowley believed that political decisions were key to resolving issues like unemployment, poor health, and a lack of transportation, seeing a close connection between her work in politics and health.

Rosemary Crowley joined the Senate at this time and became a member of the ALP Caucus committee on women's status.

Rosemary Crowley contributed to Labor's "Towards Equality" manifesto, which outlined policies for women ahead of the 1983 election.

Rosemary Crowley was a supporter and defender of the Hawke government's social welfare and health policies during her first 10 years in the Senate as a government backbencher.

Rosemary Crowley strongly advocated for the restoration of Medicare, the Whitlam government's universal health insurance program, as well as other health, occupational safety, and family reform initiatives.

Rosemary Crowley played a key role in drafting child support legislation, introducing and enforcing child maintenance agreements, and securing Caucus approval for publicly financed, needs-based child care.

Rosemary Crowley championed reforms focused on 'family services,' such as increasing financial assistance for families, expanding maternity allowances, enhancing disability support, and introducing carers' pensions and youth training initiatives.

Rosemary Crowley introduced legislation for cash rebates and home childcare allowances for working families.

Rosemary Crowley spoke at a plenary session of the UN General Assembly in 1995 during the International Year of the Family.

Rosemary Crowley was re-elected in March 1996, but after Labor's loss in the federal election that same year, she turned her attention to Senate committees.

Rosemary Crowley remained in high demand as a speaker on women's issues and parliamentary matters.

Rosemary Crowley died on 1 March 2025, at the age of 86, in Melbourne.

Rosemary Crowley married James Raymond Rosemary Crowley in 1964, and together they had three children.