Esme Tombleson | |
---|---|
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Gisborne | |
In office 1960–1972 | |
Preceded by | Reginald Keeling |
Succeeded by | Trevor Davey |
Personal details | |
Born | Esme Irene Lawson 1 August 1917 Sydney, Australia |
Died | 30 July 2010 Gisborne, New Zealand | (aged 92)
Political party | National |
Residence(s) | Burnage Station, Gisborne |
Occupation | civil service, Member of Parliament |
Profession | ballet, theatre |
Esme Irene Tombleson CBE QSO (née Lawson; 1 August 1917 – 30 July 2010) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party. An Australian child prodigy who recited Shakespeare, she had a career in theatre and ballet. During the war, her sharp mind and strong memory was recognised, and she became a civil servant. She came to New Zealand through marriage, and lived on rural land near Gisborne. She represented the Gisborne electorate in Parliament for 12 years, and was prominent as a campaigner for multiple sclerosis.