Jo Vallentine
Encyclopedia
Josephine Vallentine is a peace activist and a former Australia
n Senator
for Western Australia
. Vallentine entered the Senate on 1 July 1985 after she had been elected as a member of the Nuclear Disarmament Party
but she sat as an independent and then as a member of the Greens Western Australia
from 1 July 1990. She resigned on 31 January 1992 and, after a brief respite, has been active in community issues ever since.
Jo Vallentine grew up in Beverley
, in Western Australia's Wheatbelt area. As a young woman she travelled to the United States and was moved to hear and meet Robert F. Kennedy
.
In an interview in 2001 for a history of the WA peace movement she offered the following summary of the establishment of her political career: "The Quakers influenced me I suppose from the Vietnam Moratorium days because I was a teacher then, in 1967-69, when the marches were getting going in Perth, and I can remember being a bit nervous because in those days if you were seen in a protest you might have lost your job on Monday when you went to work.
Later we were sitting in the lounge room and someone said, we have got to have a slogan for my campaign what should it be? And one of my friends came up with "Take Heart – Vote Vallentine" So it was all green and white, and really it was a bit schmaltz when you think about it – but it worked!! It was something positive, and people didn't want to feel burdened with the thought that we were all about to be blown up, rather that we could do something about it, that we could stand up and be counted and if enough people everywhere did that, then maybe we wouldn't be blown up. So I suppose it worked to the extent that we haven't been blown up yet! And there are less nuclear weapons now than there were, but it is still pretty dangerous."
At the time of her first election campaign in 1984, media interest tended to focus more on the NDP Senate candidate for New South Wales, Midnight Oil
's singer Peter Garrett
. However, under the Australian Senate's voting system of proportional representation, Western Australia was the only state to return an NDP senator. Jo Vallentine's feisty turn of phrase and willingness to challenge cant and custom quickly inspired many.
Soon concerned about the directions of the nascent NDP, Jo Vallentine resigned from the party, held her Senate seat as an independent, was re-elected in 1987 election, and as the inaugural Greens WA Senate candidate in 1990 was elected for a third time.
During her time in Parliament, Jo Vallentine continued her grassroots activism, and marched on the "Joint Facilities" base Pine Gap
near Alice Springs. She was arrested. She also marched on the American Clark Air Base
in The Philippines in 1989.
Her efforts took a toll. After resigning from the Senate (Christabel Chamarette
was appointed as her replacement), Vallentine took time to recuperate from ill health. By 1994 she was helping found Alternatives to Violence Project
in Western Australia, focused on sharing nonviolent skills with people in prisons. She also travelled with the 1997 Peace Pilgrimage, was involved in the Jabiluka
campaign, successfully campaigned to keep the estuary at Guilderton free from urban development on the south side of Moore River, and continues to oppose the 2003 Iraq War, the use of depleted uranium in Iraq (and its possible use by the US at Lancelin, Western Australia) and expansion of nuclear power and weapons.
In an historical survey of the state in November 2006, the conservative West Australian
newspaper named Jo Vallentine as one of the state's 100 most influential people ever. She has recently been one of a number of women nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize
. The Australian Government's intentions to further mine uranium, and possibly build 25 nuclear power stations around Australia's cities in 2006 has stepped up Vallentine's role as a spokesperson.
Current South Australia
n Liberal
Senator Mary Jo Fisher
is Vallentine's niece.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Senator
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
for Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. Vallentine entered the Senate on 1 July 1985 after she had been elected as a member of the Nuclear Disarmament Party
Nuclear Disarmament Party
The Nuclear Disarmament Party was a political party in Australia. The party was formed in 1984 and enjoyed considerable initial success.-Foundation, the 1984 election, and the split:...
but she sat as an independent and then as a member of the Greens Western Australia
Greens Western Australia
The Greens Western Australia is the state branch of the Australian Greens in Western Australia. The Greens WA was formed following the merger of the WA Greens and the Green Earth Alliance...
from 1 July 1990. She resigned on 31 January 1992 and, after a brief respite, has been active in community issues ever since.
Jo Vallentine grew up in Beverley
Beverley, Western Australia
Beverley is a town located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, south-east of the state capital, Perth, between York and Brookton on the Great Southern Highway...
, in Western Australia's Wheatbelt area. As a young woman she travelled to the United States and was moved to hear and meet Robert F. Kennedy
Robert F. Kennedy
Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F...
.
In an interview in 2001 for a history of the WA peace movement she offered the following summary of the establishment of her political career: "The Quakers influenced me I suppose from the Vietnam Moratorium days because I was a teacher then, in 1967-69, when the marches were getting going in Perth, and I can remember being a bit nervous because in those days if you were seen in a protest you might have lost your job on Monday when you went to work.
Later we were sitting in the lounge room and someone said, we have got to have a slogan for my campaign what should it be? And one of my friends came up with "Take Heart – Vote Vallentine" So it was all green and white, and really it was a bit schmaltz when you think about it – but it worked!! It was something positive, and people didn't want to feel burdened with the thought that we were all about to be blown up, rather that we could do something about it, that we could stand up and be counted and if enough people everywhere did that, then maybe we wouldn't be blown up. So I suppose it worked to the extent that we haven't been blown up yet! And there are less nuclear weapons now than there were, but it is still pretty dangerous."
At the time of her first election campaign in 1984, media interest tended to focus more on the NDP Senate candidate for New South Wales, Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil , were an Australian rock band from Sydney originally performing as Farm from 1972 with drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboard player/lead guitarist Jim Moginie...
's singer Peter Garrett
Peter Garrett
Peter Robert Garrett, AM, MP , is an Australian musician, environmentalist, activist and politician.Garrett was lead singer of the Australian rock band Midnight Oil from 1973 until its disbanding in 2002...
. However, under the Australian Senate's voting system of proportional representation, Western Australia was the only state to return an NDP senator. Jo Vallentine's feisty turn of phrase and willingness to challenge cant and custom quickly inspired many.
Soon concerned about the directions of the nascent NDP, Jo Vallentine resigned from the party, held her Senate seat as an independent, was re-elected in 1987 election, and as the inaugural Greens WA Senate candidate in 1990 was elected for a third time.
During her time in Parliament, Jo Vallentine continued her grassroots activism, and marched on the "Joint Facilities" base Pine Gap
Pine Gap
Pine Gap is the commonly used name for a satellite tracking station at, some south-west of the town of Alice Springs in the centre of Australia which is operated by both Australia and the United States. The facility has become a key part of the local economy.It consists of a large computer complex...
near Alice Springs. She was arrested. She also marched on the American Clark Air Base
Clark Air Base
Clark Air Base is a former United States Air Force base on Luzon Island in the Philippines, located 3 miles west of Angeles City, about 40 miles northwest of Metro Manila. Clark Air Base was an American military facility from 1903 to 1991...
in The Philippines in 1989.
Her efforts took a toll. After resigning from the Senate (Christabel Chamarette
Christabel Chamarette
Christabel Marguerite Alain Chamarette, sometimes Christabel Bridge was a Greens Western Australia Senator for Western Australia from 1992 to 1996.-Personal life:...
was appointed as her replacement), Vallentine took time to recuperate from ill health. By 1994 she was helping found Alternatives to Violence Project
Alternatives to Violence Project
The Alternatives to Violence Project is a volunteer-run conflict transformation program. Teams of trained AVP facilitators conduct experiential workshops to develop participants' abilities to resolve conflicts without resorting to manipulation, coercian, or violence. Typically, each workshop...
in Western Australia, focused on sharing nonviolent skills with people in prisons. She also travelled with the 1997 Peace Pilgrimage, was involved in the Jabiluka
Jabiluka
Jabiluka is a uranium deposit and mine development in the Northern Territory of Australia that was to have been built on land belonging to the Mirarr Aboriginal people...
campaign, successfully campaigned to keep the estuary at Guilderton free from urban development on the south side of Moore River, and continues to oppose the 2003 Iraq War, the use of depleted uranium in Iraq (and its possible use by the US at Lancelin, Western Australia) and expansion of nuclear power and weapons.
In an historical survey of the state in November 2006, the conservative West Australian
The West Australian
The West Australian is the only locally-edited daily newspaper published in Perth, Western Australia, and is owned by ASX-listed Seven West Media . The West is published in tabloid format, as is the state's other major newspaper, The Sunday Times, a News Limited publication...
newspaper named Jo Vallentine as one of the state's 100 most influential people ever. She has recently been one of a number of women nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
. The Australian Government's intentions to further mine uranium, and possibly build 25 nuclear power stations around Australia's cities in 2006 has stepped up Vallentine's role as a spokesperson.
Current South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
n Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
Senator Mary Jo Fisher
Mary Jo Fisher
Mary Josephine Fisher is an Australian politician. She has been a Liberal member of the Australian Senate since 2007, representing the state of South Australia....
is Vallentine's niece.
Works
- Vallentine, Jo and Jones, Peter D. (1990) Quakers in politics : pragmatism or principle Alderley, Qld : The Religious Society of Friends, (James Backhouse lecture ; 26) ISBN 0909885311