Vale Mrs Yvonne Ann Chapman

I rise to speak on the motion moved by the Premier in relation to Mrs Yvonne Ann Chapman, a pioneering figure in Queensland politics and a formidable force for her community.
In 1983, Yvonne was elected to the Queensland parliament for the National Party. Just three years later, she made history as Queensland’s first female cabinet minister. This was more than a
symbolic milestone; it was an important moment in our state’s democratic story.
As someone who now holds the title of the youngest woman ever elected to this parliament, I stand on the shoulders of women like Yvonne. She made it possible for people like me to take a seat
in this chamber, to speak up and to serve. Her courage cracked the glass ceiling long before that phrase became common, and she did it not for the glory but because she believed in service, in conviction and in the great good that government could do for people.
Yvonne represented the seat of Pine Rivers from 1983 to 1989. She brought with her not just intelligence and grit but a lived experience that grounded her in the needs of real people, of working
families, of children and of rural and outer-suburban Queenslanders who deserve to be heard.
Her ministerial appointments in welfare services, family services, youth and ethnic affairs, and later transport, were marked by her unapologetic advocacy. She was bold. She was firm. She believed welfare should support those in genuine need, and she was not afraid to say so. Her remarks could spark debate, yes, but they were never hollow. They were rooted in her deeply held values and her belief in personal responsibility, family and community.
Before and after her time in state parliament, Yvonne also left a lasting legacy in local government. She was first elected to Pine Rivers Shire Council in 1976 and later returned as the first,
and ultimately the last, mayor of the Pine Rivers shire. She led that community from 1994 until its amalgamation in 2008, securing three elections with overwhelming support including one uncontested.
That speaks volumes.
Yvonne Chapman was not a politician in it for the spotlight. She was a battler who rose from humble beginnings leaving school at 14, caring for her family after the death of her father and helping
her mother each day. Those early experiences shaped her world view and fuelled her determination.
She understood hardship and she used that understanding to inform policy and connect with real people.
Those who served alongside her often remarked on her determination and strength of character.
But more than that she was principled. She knew who she was, she knew what she stood for and she never wavered. Even in retirement she remained engaged and unafraid to speak up. As she once said, she was already ready to be a ‘thorn in their side’ if it meant holding the government accountable.
To her family—her beloved husband, Graeme; son, Greg; and daughter, Wendy—I offer my deepest condolences. You shared Yvonne with the public for many decades, and her contributions will
echo after her passing. Vale, Yvonne Chapman—a woman of grit, a woman of firsts, a woman who made history and never asked for credit. Queensland is better for her service, and I am grateful to honour her legacy here today.