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The Hon. Dr (Helen) Helen Wai-Har Sham-Ho

The Hon. Dr Helen Wai-Har SHAM-HO, OAM, B.A., Dip.Soc.Wk (Syd) B.Leg.S (Macq)

Member Photo
Date of Birth: 09/09/1943
Place of Birth: Hong Kong
Date of Death:
Place of Death:
Parliamentary Service
Position Start End Period Notes
Member of the NSW Legislative Council 19 Mar 1988 28 Feb 2003 14 years 11 months 10 days A Member of the directly elected Legislative Council. Dates of Elections 19 March 1988 and 25 March 1995. Elected for balance of term of service of Hon. J.D Garland, resigned.
Political Party Activity
Liberal Party. Member of the Seaforth Branch: 1992; Epping Branch: 1982-1991. Resigned from Liberal Party 1998.
Community Activity
Life member of Australian-Chinese Community Association and Chinese Youth League. Advisor and member of numerous organisations including the following: Australian-Chinese Forum of New South Wales Incorporated. (Foundation member) ; Indo-China Chinese Association; Chung Chin Association; Australian Chinese-Descendants Mutual Association; Australian Teo Chew Association; Elderly Australian Chinese Homes (New South Wales) Co-operative Limited; Australian Chinese Academics and Professionals Association; Malaysian Singapore Association; Sydney Chinese Women's Network; Chinese Women's Association; Sydney West Elderly Welfare Association Inc.; Chinese Parents Association Children with Disabilities; Way-In Network; Ryde Family Support Service (Foundation President: 1982); National Council of Women of New South Wales (Honorary Member); Western Sydney Region Advisory Committee Member and Commissioner for Ethnic Affairs Commission: 1984-1988; Ryde/Hunters Hill Interagency (Foundation Member: 1973); Life Line Centre Counsellor: 1969-1970; Northern District Council Parents & Citizens Association Councillor: 1976-1977; Australian Local Government Women's Association.
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Lawyer (solicitor). B.A., Dip.Soc.Wk., University of Sydney; B.Leg.S. Macquarie University. Social Worker St Vincents Hospital, Darlinghurst, Mount St Margarets Hospital and Ryde Hospital. Solicitor, J.A. Buda and Associates, Cabramatta. Educated at Domremy College High School. Awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Western Sydney (UWS) in September 2014. Leisure activities include reading, swimming, cooking, sewing and theatre.
Military Service
Honours Received
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Local Government Activity
Personal
Migrated to Australia in 1961. Married (1) and had issue 2 daughters. Married (2) Robert Ho on 15 December 1987, 3 stepchildren. First Chinese born Parliamentarian in Australia.
Additional Information
First speech

The Parliament of New South Wales acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of all Aboriginal people, and pays respects to all Elders past and present. We acknowledge the Gadigal people as the traditional custodians of the land on which the Parliament of New South Wales stands.