Janette Howard
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| Alison Janette Howard | |
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Spouse of the 25th Prime Minister of Australia
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| In office 11 March 1996 – 3 December 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Annita van Iersal |
| Succeeded by | Thérèse Rein |
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| Born | July 11, 1944 Kingsford, New South Wales |
| Spouse | John Howard |
| Children | Melanie, Tim and Richard Howard |
| Alma mater | Sydney University |
| Occupation | Teacher |
| Religion | Christian |
Alison Janette Howard (born 11 July 1944) is the wife of John Howard, who was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia.
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[edit] Early life
Janette was born Alison Janette Parker in Kingsford, a working-class suburb of Sydney. Her father was an engineer with the New South Wales railways. The family later moved to Vaucluse. She was educated at Sydney Girls High School and trained as a teacher.
[edit] Marriage and children
She joined the Liberal Party, and met John Howard at a Liberal Party function. They were married on 4 April 1971, at St Peter's Anglican Church in Watsons Bay.
The Howards have three children, Melanie (born 1974, married Rowan McDonald 2003), Tim (born 1977) and Richard (born 1980). A grandson Angus was born in 2007.
[edit] Personal life
Janette adopted a relatively low profile during her husband's tenure as Prime Minister, however in 1999 a journalist alleged that she had intervened with the Prime Minister concerning an appointment to the board of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Janette issued a rare public statement denying the allegation as "not only wrong but deeply offensive to me."[1]
In 1996 Janette was diagnosed with cervical cancer and underwent surgery; the type of cancer she had was not revealed to the public until 2006.[2] John Howard said at the time that he would leave politics immediately if it seemed necessary in the interests of his wife's health. Since then Janette has been active in advocating early screening for breast cancer for Australian women.[3]
[edit] Public duties
Janette's public duties included accompanying the Prime Minister on official tours and carrying out the duties of official host at the Prime Minister's official residences, The Lodge in Canberra and Kirribilli House in Sydney. She is also a patron of the National Portrait Gallery.
[edit] Political views
Janette was always seen at the Prime Minister's side during election campaigns, although she rarely made any public comment on political issues. According to John Howard's biographer Pru Goward, however, Janette "lives and breathes" politics. She also devoted time to "nursing" John Howard's electorate of Bennelong, which although a Liberal seat since its creation in 1949, gradually became less Liberal and culminated in the defeat of John Howard at the Australian 2007 election.
Janette did however break this pattern by deciding to speak out against Kevin Rudd.[4]
