Menzies, Pattie, (Dame) (1899-1995)

Also known as
Leckie, Pattie Maie (1899-1995)
Menzies, Pattie Mae (1899-1995)
Field of activity
Community worker
Libraries Australia
http://nla.gov.au/anbd.aut-an35228137
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-488615

Biographies

On 1 January 1954, Pattie Menzies was appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (Civil). The official citation, conferring the GBE to her under her married name, Mrs R. G. Menzies, read: "In recognition for her years of incessant and unselfish performance of public duty in hospital work, in visiting, addressing and encouraging many thousands of women in every State of Australia, including very remote areas, and in the distinguished representation of Australia on a number of occasions overseas."

Daughter of John William (later Senator) and May Beatrice (née Johnston) Leckie, Pattie Mae Leckie was born in Alexandra, Victoria. The eldest daughter of a farmer turned politician she attended Fintona Girls' School. In 1953 there she returned to open new buildings, along with her husband, the Rt. Hon. R. G. (later Sir Robert) Menzies.

Pattie Leckie met Robert Menzies in 1919, and the couple were married on 27 September 1920. The Menzies had four children, one of whom died at birth. Throughout their 58 years of marriage Dame Pattie was involved with charitable work whenever possible. Dame Pattie was appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of her charitable work. She received this honour nine years prior to her husband receiving his knighthood (1963).

On 19 September 1995, Kate Carnell, Chief Minister of the ACT, in a tribute to Dame Pattie, stated: "[Dame Pattie] had great concerns for her fellow citizens, particularly for women. She was mindful of the importance of recognising the role of women in the development of the nation…Dame Pattie excelled at making people feel at ease and was at home talking to people from all walks of life. She supported community work…I am sure many former girl guides and brownies…remember cleaning the silver at the Lodge for Dame Pattie as part of Bob-a-Job Week."

Dame Pattie's life spanned 96 years. During that time she lived through two world wars, the depression and the postwar reconstruction of Australia. Sir Robert (1972) and two sons predeceased Dame Pattie. In 1992 she returned from Melbourne to Canberra, where she had spent many years during the time that Sir Robert was prime minister, to live with her daughter. Dame Pattie passed away on 30 August 1995.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Related people and organisations

Australian Women's Register

Resources for Pattie Menzies

Selected resources (6)

Australian Women's Register

  1. Robert Menzies/Pattie MenziesAustralia's Prime Ministers National Archives of Australia : Robert Menzies/Pattie Menzies
    National Archives of Australia
    [2002]
    Series: http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/meetpm.asp?pmId=12&pageName=wife
  2. Faith, Hope and Charity Australian Women and Imperial Honours: 1901-1989
    Australian Women's Archives Project
    [2003]
    Published: Australian Women's Archives Project
    Series: http://www.womenaustralia.info/exhib/honours/honours.html
  3. The speeches of Sir Robert Menzies. Prime Minister Menzies and Dame Pattie Menzies giving their speeches at the opening of the T.I. Power Station , Tumut Ponds of the Snowy Mountains Scheme on October 31, 1959
    Menzies, Robert, Sir, 1894-1978
    [1959]
  4. National Library of Australia: Interview with Dame Pattie Menzies (sound recording), interviewer: Heather Rusden (8 May 1990)
    1 digital audio tape, 90 minutes, and 41 page transcript. Dame Pattie talks about her family background; meeting Sir Robert Menzies and her views on her role as wife to the Prime Minister. She then talks about her wartime involvement with the Women's Hospital in Melbourne and as President of the Auxiliaries and President of the Welfare Unit. Dame Pattie then discusses entertaining at the Lodge and difficulties in its running as well as security problems and their effect on the family. She then talks about travelling overseas; friendship with Sir Winston Churchill and his family and her memories of early Canberra. Dame Pattie then discusses her public speaking as well as that of her husband and crowd reactions. She then decribes Walmer Castle near Dover where she and Sir Robert lived for a few months each year while Sir Robert was Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.
    ORAL TRC 2574
  5. National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection: Papers of Phillip L. (Phillip Lawrence) Harris (1928 - 1971)
    Papers relate to the period Harris spent in England. They include correspondence between P. Harris and Hugh Dash, Press Secretary to Prime Minister Menzies, 1954-1960. Letters discuss the Prime Minister, Dame Pattie Menzies, Lady MacMillan, and the political situation in Australia. Also included are correspondence with lawyers, abstracts of letters and notes all relating to Harris's struggle to bring his son back from Belgium, where his mother had fled with him. Papers also include newspaper clippings relating to the World War I trench paper "Aussie" of which P. Harris was editor.
    MS 3915
  6. National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection: Menzies, Robert, Sir, 1894-1978 (1905 - 1978)
    This extensive collection of personal papers includes inter alia: 1. Inward and outward correspondence sorted chronologically and by name, 1935-1978. Principal correspondents include Eric Harrison, Lord Casey, Harold Macmillan, Leo Amery, Clive Baillieu, Owen Dixon, Alfred Stirling, Jack Fingleton, Fred Alexander, Walter Crocker, Lionel Lindsay, Alexander Douglas Home, Will Ashton, Anthony Eden, Jack Cato, Winston Churchill, Alexander Downer, Alan Herbert, James McGregor, Hubert Opperman, Leon Trout, Ralph Richardson, Frank Richardson, Justice Felix Frankfurter and Colonel F.H. Wright. 2. Press cuttings, speeches, statements and broadcasts, 1917-1976. 3. Diaries, 1935-1963, including those kept on overseas trips and office appointment diaries. 4. Research material and drafts of writings. 5. Personal medical, legal and financial records. 6. Family papers, including those of his wife Dame Pattie Menzies. 7. Liberal Party correspondence and printed material, 1944-1974. 8. Family and official photographs 9.Papers relating to specific topics including the Communist Party, the 1956 Suez Crisis, defence, cricket, elections, Rhodesia and South Africa, banking, economics and the Churchill Memorial Trust. 10. Papers relating to Menzies' appointment as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, 1965-1971.
    MS 936

Resources by Pattie Menzies (3)

  1. Dame Pattie Menzies interviewed by Heather Rusden
    Menzies, Pattie Dame, 1899-1995
    [ Sound : 1990 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 20.143)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 20.143)

  2. The speeches of Sir Robert Menzies. Prime Minister Menzies and Dame Pattie Menzies giving their speeches at the opening of the T.I. Power Station , Tumut Ponds of the Snowy Mountains Scheme on October 31, 1959
    Menzies, Robert Sir, 1894-1978
    [ Sound : 1959 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 17.464)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 17.464)

  3. Papers
    Derham, Frances
    [ Unpublished : 1890-1987 ]
    At Uni Melbourne Arch
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.196)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.196)

Resources about Pattie Menzies (17)

  1. [Biographical cuttings on Pattie Menzies, Dame, wife of Sir Robert Menzies, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals]
    [ Published : 1900-1990 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 22.109)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 22.109)

  2. Dame Pattie Menzies interviewed by Heather Rusden
    Menzies, Pattie Dame, 1899-1995
    [ Sound : 1990 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 19.739)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 19.739)

  3. The speeches of Sir Robert Menzies. Prime Minister Menzies and Dame Pattie Menzies giving their speeches at the opening of the T.I. Power Station , Tumut Ponds of the Snowy Mountains Scheme on October 31, 1959
    Menzies, Robert Sir, 1894-1978
    [ Sound : 1959 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 17.06)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 17.06)

  4. 83 year old Mrs H. Meadows, of 88 Peabody Trust, Camberwell receiving her parcel from Mrs Menzies
    Unknown
    [ Photograph : 1948 ]
    View online
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.116)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.116)

  5. Service of thanksgiving for the life of Dame Pattie Menzies G.B.E. : the Presbyterian Church of St Andrew, Canberra, Monday 11 September 1995
    [ Book : 1995 ]
    At State Library of VIC
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.947)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.947)

  6. [Pattie and Sir Robert Menzies walking along a street] Photograph from the Age
    [ Photograph : 1940 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.79)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.79)

  7. Dame Pattie Menzies and daughter Heather Menzies at the state funeral for Sir Robert Menzies, Scots Church, Melbourne, 19 May 1978 / Michael Jensen
    Jensen, Michael, 1943-
    [ Photograph : 1978 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.893)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.893)

  8. Dame Pattie Menzies, Heather Menzies and Reverend Fred McKay at the state funeral for Sir Robert Menzies, Scots Church, Melbourne, 19 May 1978 / Michael Jensen
    Jensen, Michael, 1943-
    [ Photograph : 1978 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.877)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.877)

  9. Papers of Sir Robert Menzies
    Menzies, Robert Sir, 1894-1978
    [ Unpublished : 1905-1978 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.829)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.829)

  10. Sir Robert Gordon and Dame Pattie Menzies, arriving at a state reception at Melbourne Town Hall, Olympic Games, Melbourne, 22 November 1956
    Herald and Weekly Times
    [ Photograph : 1956 ]
    View online
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.755)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.755)

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    Details of Menzies Family

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    Persons with the surname Menzies who have lived in Queensland.

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    Australian soprano, Dame Nellie Melba is regarded as the most accomplished and famous soprano of her time and was the first Australian to achieve international recognition on the opera stage.

  1. Menzies, Pattie, (Dame) (1899-1995)
    ... On 1 January 1954, Pattie Menzies was appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire ...
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.862)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.862)

  2. Canberra Mothercraft Society
    ... Dame) Pattie Menzies. Subsequently, the Commonwealth Department of Health through its territorial ...
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.002)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.002)

  3. Henderson, Heather (1928-)
    ... Dame Pattie Menzies. She was influential in the development of Australia's capital city, Canberra. The ...
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.001)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.001)

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  1. [Pattie and Sir Robert Menzies walk...
    [ Photograph : 1940 ]
  2. Dame Pattie Menzies, Heather Menzie...
    Jensen, Michael...
    [ Photograph : 1978 ]
  3. Dame Pattie Menzies and daughter He...
    Jensen, Michael...
    [ Photograph : 1978 ]
  4. Sir Robert Gordon and Dame Pattie M...
    Herald and Week...
    [ Photograph : 1956 ]
  5. Sir Robert Menzies, Lord De L'Isle,...
    Australian Info...
    [ Photograph : 1965 ]
  6. The Prime Minister of Australia, Si...
    Howard, Bruce, ...
    [ Photograph : 1956 ]
  1. [Menzies, Pattie (Dame) : programs and invitations ephemera material collected by the National Library of Australia]
    [ Published : 1900 ]
    At National Library
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.126)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.126)

  2. Papers
    Harris, Phillip L. (Phillip Lawrence)
    [ Unpublished : 1928-1971 ]
    At National Library
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.005)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.005)

  3. Papers
    Nan Kivell, Rex, 1898-1977
    [ Unpublished : 1938-1977 ]
    At National Library
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.002)

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  1. Dame Pattie Menzies.(Obituary)
    Yallop, Richard
    The Independent
    [ Article : 1995 ]
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.284)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.284)

  2. Lady of the Libs. -Obituary of Dame Pattie Menzies, wife of former Liberal prime minister Sir Robert Menzies.-
    Rintoul, Stuart and others
    Australian
    [ Article : 1995 ]
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.273)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.273)

  3. Report on the lease/leaseback of the Magistrates Court and the Dame Pattie Menzies Building / Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory
    Australian Capital Territory. Legislative Assembly. Standing Committee on Public Accounts
    [ Article : 1997 ]
    At 2 libraries
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.242)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.242)

  4. Dame Pattie Menzies Foundation dinner. -Speech by the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. J. W. Howard at the dinner in Sydney, on 11 May 1987-
    Howard, John, 1939-
    Commonwealth Record
    [ Article ]
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.23)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.23)

  1. Robert Menzies interviewed by Lady Frances McNicoll in the Menzies MS 4936 collection
    Menzies, Robert Sir, 1894-1978
    [ Sound : 1972-1975 ]
    At National Library
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  2. Margaret Whitlam interviewed by Amy McGrath
    Whitlam, Margaret, 1919-
    [ Sound : 1979 ]
    At National Library
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    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.001)

  3. Ian Wilson interviewed by Susan Marsden in the Old Parliament House political and parliamentary oral history project
    Wilson, I. B. C. (Ian Bonython Cameron), 1932-
    [ Sound : 2009 ]
    View online
    At National Library
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  4. Old Mortality / by Sir Walter Scott
    Scott, Walter, Sir, 1771-1832
    [ Book, Article, Audio book : 1800-2009 ]
    Languages: English, French
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 48 libraries
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  1. Website: Australian Women's Archives Project
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 18 matching archived pages
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.046)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.046)

  2. Website: Australian Women in War
    www.womenaustralia.info
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    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.043)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.043)

  3. Website: Putting skirts on the sacred benches : women candidates for the New South Wales Parliament
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
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    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.043)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.043)

  1. DAME PATTIE MENZIES' INVESTITURE
    Cairns Post (Qld. : 1909 - 1954) Wednesday 17 February 1954 p 1 Article Illustrated
    ... DAME PATTIE MENZIES' INVESTITURE The Queen fixes the scarlet ribbon oífthe Dame Grand Cross of the British Empire on Dame Pattie Menzies at a Canberra investiture. ... 23 words
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 2.301)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 2.301)

  2. DAME PATTIE MENZIES CURTSEYS TO QUEEN
    The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1954) Tuesday 16 February 1954 p 4 Article Illustrated
    ... DAME PATTIE MENZIES CURTSEYS TO QUEEN DAME PATTIE MENZIES gracefully curtseys to the Queen as she steps out of her car in front of Parliament House yesterday. To the left of Dame Pattie is Lady Alice Edgerton, lady-in-waiting to the Queen. The Prime Minister (back to the Camera) is waiting to ... 63 words
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.732)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.732)

  3. BUSY DAY FOR DAME PATTIE MENZIES
    The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954) Tuesday 16 March 1954 p 3 Article
    ... BUSY DAY FOR DAME PATTIE MENZIES THE wife of the Prime Minister, Dame Pattie Menzies, had a busy ... Pattie was welcomed by the president (Miss Millie Best), who congratu- lated Dame Pattie on the re- ... ".. The Library Hall, was crowd- ed with women for the recep- tion. Dame Pattie gave many human ... 249 words
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.72)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.72)