Former Labor MP Fran Bladel has been remembered in the Tasmanian Parliament as a “one-of-a-kind” mentor and trailblazer for women in politics.
Bladel, who passed away last December at the age of 90, served as the Member for Franklin from 1986 to 2002 and held several ministerial portfolios in the Bacon Government.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, former Labor leader Rebecca White became emotional as she paid tribute to Bladel, with the late MP’s family looking on.
“I will forever be grateful to Fran for the support and encouragement that she gave to me from the time that I nominated as a candidate for the Labor Party to run in the seat of Lyons,” she said.
“Fran, you were an inspiration and you will forever live on in the memories of all those who were fortunate enough to know you and who were the beneficiaries of your kindness and encouragement.”
White acknowledged that she may not have entered politics without Bladel’s influence and mentorship.
“I know that she so desperately wanted to see us win the recent state election and that she was so hopeful to see another woman as Premier of this state,” White said.
“It was not to be this time, but that day will come and I hope that when another woman is elected as Premier of Tasmania they might be able to take a quiet moment of reflection to visit Fran’s portrait hanging on the walls of Parliament House and pay tribute to her for helping to pave the way.”
White described Bladel as an inspiration and said she will live on in the memories of those who knew her and benefited from her kindness and encouragement.
“Fran was stoic, she was strong, she was intelligent and she could be forthright, but she was also incredibly compassionate and she had an ability to empathise with others,” White said.
“Perhaps because she had suffered her own heartache and knew what it was like to feel desperate or sad or sometimes angry, that meant people could confide in her with the safe knowledge that she wouldn’t be a harsh judge.”
“She stood ready at all times to progress opportunities for women. She was relentless in her endeavour to promote opportunities for women and to encourage their participation in the political process.”
White said she benefited from Bladel’s “glass ceiling shattering efforts” as a minister in government and that Bladel used her time in public office to continue teaching and inspiring others.
“She was forceful but graceful at the same time,” White said.
“For all the years I knew her, I wish I knew her better because there is so much to Fran that I would love to learn more about and there are so many conversations that I’ll never get to share with her that I think would have been a lot of fun to have as well as incredibly thought-provoking.”
