Jenny Gardiner

Jennifer Ann Gardiner (born 16 October 1950) is an Australian politician and former Nationals member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1991 to 2015.

Early years Gardiner was born in Penola, South Australia. She attended primary school in Victoria. Her secondary education was undertaken in Victoria and then in New South Wales.

After leaving school, she obtained a Bachelor of Business through the Mitchell College of Advanced Education in Bathurst, New South Wales, now part of Charles Sturt University.

National Party political activity Gardiner commenced her working life as a junior clerk working in a legal office in Tamworth where she played an active role in the Young Australian Country Party – NSW (YACP – NSW) – the NSW youth branch of the Party now known as the Young Nationals. Gardiner worked her way up to become State Secretary of the YACP – NSW and was elected as a delegate to the Central Council of the Australian Country Party – NSW in the mid-1970s. that swept the Unsworth Labor Government from office.

In an unpublished manuscript, Gardiner has written about the history of the NSW Young Nationals.

New South Wales state political career Gardiner was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council on 25 May 1991 replacing the Honourable Judy Jakins, MLC. She was re-elected to the Council in both 1999 and 2007 and had the fifth highest quota in both elections. She was number two on the Liberal/Nationals election ticket and since 31 March 2003 was the Deputy Leader of The Nationals in the Legislative Council.

Gardiner served on the Advisory Council for Charles Sturt University between 1991 and 1995.