Stevenson was a founding member of the Liberal Party of Australia 's Canberra branch on 27 January 1949 , becoming president of the Women 's Branch and an executive member of the NSW party . She was elected to the Australian Capital Territory Advisory Council in 1951 , a position she would hold until 1959 . She was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal in 1953 . In 1954 she was the Liberal candidate for the ACT 's federal seat , losing to the sitting Labor member . She was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire later that year , and continued to be involved in a wide variety of community organisations , including the National Council of Women , the Business and Professional Women 's Association , the United Nations Association , Soroptimist International , the Victoria League , the Sub-Normal and Incapacitated Children 's Association , the Order of the Eastern Star , and the Pan-Pacific Women 's Association . She died in Canberra in 1985
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
Mary Stevenson