Margaret Reid
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Margaret Elizabeth Reid (born 28 May, 1935) was an Australian politician. She was the first woman to be President of the Australian Senate.
Born near Adelaide, South Australia, Reid was educated at the University of Adelaide. There she joined the Liberal Party, becoming the first female president of the Australian Liberal Students Federation. After graduating Reid became a barrister by trade, specialising in family law. She moved to Canberra in 1965.
In March 1981 Reid was selected to fill a casual vacancy in the Senate following the death of her close friend, Senator John Knight. She became Liberal Whip in the Senate in 1987 and held the office until 1995. In 1996 she was elected Senate President, retiring in 2002 after six years, the longest-serving President in 25 years.
Reid resigned from the Senate in February 2003 was replaced in the Senate by former Australian Capital Territory Chief Minister Gary Humphries. In 2004 she was awarded the Order of Australia for her service to the Australian Parliament.