Alison Kerr, Lady Kerr

Alison, Lady Kerr (; 29 July 1915 – 9 September 1974) was the first wife of Sir John Kerr, who was Governor-General of Australia from 1974 to 1977. She was a marriage guidance counselor and administrator prior to his appointment. She died soon into Kerr's term at Yarralumla, and he remarried a few months later.

Biography Alison Worstead was born in 1915 in Molong, New South Wales. She was known as "Peggy" to her family and friends. She had a brother named Victor, who predeceased her, as did her parents, Frederick Oscar (formerly Wehrstedt) and Florence Ophelia (née Jones).

She was educated at Domremy Convent, Five Dock, Sydney and gained a Diploma of Social Studies at the University of Sydney. A fellow student there was Margaret Dovey, who became a close lifelong friend and later married Gough Whitlam. which paralysed her left side and left her with a speech disability. However, she rose above these challenges to continue her work as a marriage guidance counsellor and to serve on Lifeline's Adoption Committee. Between treatments she returned to Admiralty House, and Sir John Kerr transferred some engagements there so that he could be close to her.

There were formal tributes to Lady Kerr in the Australian Parliament and the New South Wales Parliament. Kristin Johnson, a psychiatrist; and Philip Kerr, a solicitor.

Sir John Kerr remarried in April 1975, to Anne Robson. In her short time as a governor-general's spouse, Lady Alison Kerr had dispensed with the requirement for women to curtsey to her and her husband. Lady Anne Kerr reinstated the practice.