Honourable Pauline Toner

The Honourable Pauline Toner, Member for Greensborough, was born in Horsham, Victoria, and educated at the Brigidine Convent and at Melbourne and LaTrobe universities. She was a most significant local and Victorian figure, who worked passionately for the Diamond Valley and Eltham communities.

She was also an important pioneer for women, being the first woman minister in the Victorian Parliament, as Minister for Community Welfare Services from 1982 to 1985, as well as first woman Shire President of Diamond Valley, in 1977. She fought successfully for the establishment of the Diamond Valley Learning Centre, the Little Athletics Centre, the Eltham Copper Butterfly Reserves, St Helena Secondary College, Diamond Valley Health Centre, Glen Katherine Primary School, new buildings for Yarrambat and Apollo Parkways primary schools, the bus route in Apollo Parkways and many other projects.

In her parliamentary career, from 1977-89, Pauline took particular interest in education, young people, community services and protecting the environment.

Pauline was generous with her time and with community groups and her constituents and a mentor to many other women. As the Minister for Community Services, one of Pauline's ground-breaking achievements was, after in-depth community consultation, the bipartisan revision of the Adoption Act.