Sonja+Davies


 Sonja Davies was born on November 11 1923 in Wallaceville, Upper Hut. She was the illegitimate daughter of Gwladys Vile a State Registered nurse. Her Father was an Irish Army Major from Cork Island his name was Gerald Dempsey, Sonja was 21 before she knew who he was. Sonja was put in many different foster homes because in those days there was no financial assistance from the government and there was little support from her parents. Sonja’s mother had kept her a secret from her parents until she found out that Sonja was being ill treated in one of the foster homes. Sonja was sent to Oamaru and she then lived with her Grandparents. By the age of 14 years Sonja had begun work at a lending library and was married and divorced by the age of 17. At the age of 22 years she had a young baby, and Sonja was diagnosed with tuberculosis [TB] and learned that her fiancé had been killed in the war. Sonja Davies helped found the Working Woman’s Council and in September 1955 Sonja was one of a group of woman that came together at a meeting and organized that 9 Woman would drive to the railway and lie on the tracks as a demonstration to stop the nelson railway line from being demolished she was arrested along with many other woman and appeared in court and was charged with ‘Obstructing Railway Business’  The **New Zealand Labour Party** is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially Liberalism, and Progressivism, and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....   Later in life her husband and two children were to die before she did. Her personal courage and determination to go on and on were extraordinary attributes.  **Trevor Colin Mallard** is a New Zealand politician. He was a Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand holding portfolios including Environment, Labour, Broadcasting, State Owned Enterprises, Rugby World Cup and Education....   In 1974 Sonja became the first female executive of the federation of Labour, She became the labour New Zealand MP for Pencarrow in 1997 and served two terms Sonja Retired in 1993 Trevor Mallard replaced her. She outlived both of her children; her daughter Penny whose father was a US Marine who was killed in action before she was born, succumbed to motor neurone disease, aged 50; and her second child, Mark from her marriage to trades unionist Charlie Davies was killed in a tunneling accident in 1978. Sonja died on November 11 2005 aged 81 over 600 people attended her funeral Sonja was a very courageous woman she always stuck up for the underdog. She had very high standards and had a very kind heart That is why she is my Hero.

