Judith Adams - Biography

Biography

Adams was born in Picton, New Zealand, and was a trained nurse and midwife experienced in health care policy, with a diploma in Operating Theatre Nursing. She joined the New Zealand Territorial Army as a nursing sister in 1963, and was later posted to Vietnam as a civilian nurse under the Colombo Plan during the Vietnam War. Adams emigrated to Australia in the 1968, and was employed by the Medical Department of Western Australia as a member of the Emergency Nursing Service, which involved postings to regional Western Australian towns. She met her husband, Gordon Adams, a pilot for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, while serving in Meekatharra, whom she married in 1970. The couple leased a farm at Quindanning before purchasing a farm at Kojonup in 1972. While in Western Australia, she served as a councillor of the Healthcare Association of Western Australia, the Australian Healthcare Association, and the National Rural Health Alliance, and was a member of the Rural Health Reference Group. She was also a member of the State Executive of the Liberal Party of Australia between 2000 and 2004. Gordon died in 2008.

At the 2001 Western Australian state election, Adams was a candidate for the seat of Wagin, but was defeated by Terry Waldron. Adams was elected to the Senate at the 2004 federal election, with her term commencing on 1 July 2005, becoming the second-oldest woman to enter Australian parliament. During her period in parliament, she served as deputy opposition whip, and was involved in securing changes to wheat laws and defence force policy. Adams had been diagnosed with first-stage breast cancer in 1998, and secondary breast cancer in 2008. She died from the disease at Kalamunda Hospital in March 2012.

The Parliament of Western Australia appointed Dean Smith on 2 May 2012 to Adams' Senate vacancy.