Helen Sham-Ho

Helen Wai-Har Sham-Ho OAM (Chinese: 何沈慧霞; pinyin: Hé Shěn Huìxiá) (born 9 September 1943) is a former Australian politician.

Early life and education

Of Bao'an Hakka ancestry, Sham-Ho was born in Hong Kong. She migrated to Australia in 1961.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of Social Work from the University of Sydney, graduating in 1967,[1] and earned an LL.B. at Macquarie University.[2]

Her first marriage produced two daughters; her second marriage was to Robert Ho on 15 December 1987. In 1982 she had joined the Epping Branch of the Liberal Party.[3]

In 1988, she was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council for the Liberal Party. She was the first Chinese to be elected to an Australian parliament. She continued as a Liberal MLC until 1998, when she resigned from the party to sit as an independent. She retired before the 2003 election.[3] In 1992 she became one of the eminent Australians serving on the original Foundation Council of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy. Since her retirement she has been involved in various fund-raising activities in her local community.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "2012 Australia Day Honours". The University of Sydney.
  2. ↑ Chris Lilley and His Aussie Heroes - Macquarie University
  3. 1 2 "The Hon. Helen Wai-Har Sham-Ho (1943–)". Former Members. Parliament of New South Wales. 2008. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
  4. ↑ Belongings: Post World War 2 migration memories & journeys Andrea Fernandes, NSW Migration Heritage Centre, 2008.


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