Zali Steggall, the former Winter Olympian turned barrister who is about to take on Tony Abbott for his seat of Warringah, has politics running through her veins thanks to her late grandmother Phemie Wallis of Lorn.
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Mrs Wallis was a staunch Liberal Party member, receiving recognition from the party for her tireless work and years spent as Maitland Branch Treasurer.
“Mum would be sitting back taking this all in. She would be very proud,” said Zali’s mum, Dr Susan Steggall who spent her childhood in Maitland.
Zali, based in Manly, recently announced she was taking on the former prime minister, as an Independent candidate for the federal seat of Warringah during this year’s federal election.
One of her platforms is to introduce policies to drive the shift to much lower carbon emissions and commit to limiting global warming.
Dr Steggall said her mother would be amazed at how Zali’s political campaign is unfolding. “She would be following this so closely and would be absolutely glued to the television,” she said. “She would have been fascinated by it all – very proud and amazed.”
Zali’s grandparents Phemie and Robert “Rex” Wallis owned and operated Wallis Pharmacy, located at 455 High Street, Maitland, from 1948.
Mr Wallis died in 1979 aged 64 and Mrs Wallis in 2007 aged 91. They lived in Addison Road, Bolwarra, Nillo Street, Lorn and after Mr Wallis passed Mrs Wallis lived in Melrose Street, Lorn.
“Mum was very active with the Liberal Party in Maitland – a staunch supporter,” Dr Steggall said. “She received certificates for her service – one from former Prime Minister John Howard,” she said.
Describing her parents as competitive, Dr Steggall believes this was a family trait inherited by Zali and displayed both in the sporting and political arenas.
“Mum was captain of Maitland Girls High School in 1933 and was a good athlete, excelling at swimming and in her later years croquet and bridge.”
Dr Steggall attended Nillo Infants School and Maitland Public School before attending Kambala Anglican Girls’ School in Sydney. She married Cesnock-born solicitor and Manly rugby union representative John Steggall.
The couple along with Zali and her champion snowboarding brother Zeke, moved to France where they lived for 10 years.
“I think Zali will be a breath of fresh air if she wins,” Dr Steggall said.
“She felt she was at an age where she can put her hand up and her family would support her.
“I don’t know how she will go but I do know there has been a groundswell of support and she will put up a good fight.”
