Don't Call Me First Lady: PM's wife

[icyfroth]

It was Margie Abbott's first speaking engagement since her husband became prime minister, and she took to the podium with style and grace.

But when it comes to protocol, you can throw it out the 36th floor window of the Sydney CBD hotel where Mrs Abbott was on Tuesday to support the Pink Hope foundation.

"That term `First Lady' I feel very uncomfortable with it - I'm certainly a lady but I'm not the first," she told AAP.

And as far as addressing her as Mrs Abbott, forget it, it's Margie.

Looking stunning in a soft pink dress and a smart new hair cut, Mrs Abbott said "she was honoured" to take part in the launch of the The Lucky One, the memoir of Pink Hope founder Krystal Barter.

In 2009, at the age of 25, Barter underwent a preventative mastectomy because she carried the breast cancer gene, BRCA1.

And it was from her hospital bed that the Sydneysider started Pink Hope.

After growing up with her mother and grandmother who both have cancer, mother-of-three Barter was determined to do things differently.

It's an issue that US actress Angelina Jolie faced when she too revealed last May that she had a double mastectomy.

With her status as the prime minister's wife, Mrs Abbott says she is choosy about which organisations she supports.

"Pink Hope is something I'm very passionate about," she said.

"And basically giving a voice to organisations and supporting families under pressure."

"Youth intervention ... Krystal's charity is one about giving women a voice."

She was introduced to Mrs Barter through a mutual friend about six weeks ago, and they met at a cafe on Sydney's Northern Beaches with Mrs Abbott arriving in gym gear.

"She is a young woman on a mission and she is thriving," said Mrs Abbott in her opening speech.

Mrs Barter, dressed in hot pink, replied: "I'm just a mum from the Northern Beaches like you.

"We are incredibly lucky to have a first lady like you."

And as host Karl Stefanovic said: "Margie, you've never sought the limelight, but you're so good at it."

From Here

Mrs Abbott is certainly a lady to be admired.

[just_me_karen]

Admired? For what?

Wearing a pink dress?

Talking at one charity event each six months?

For what?

[sprinklespowerpuff]

Don't blame her for not wanting to be called "First Lady". This isn't the USA.

[just_me_karen]

IMO margie abbott is an absolute disgrace.

She has the opportunity to do good for the Australian community. She is squandering the chance and media coverage, a typically selfish conservative attitude.

Disgraceful.

And I would never refer to her as First Lady.

[polksaladallie]

I was under the impression that she was a woman.

[*mrgrizz*]

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@just_me_karen wrote:
IMO margie abbott is an absolute disgrace.

She has the opportunity to do good for the Australian community. She is squandering the chance and media coverage, a typically selfish conservative attitude.

Disgraceful.

And I would never refer to her as First Lady.

---

that is your opinion

does the commonwealth of Australia pay her a wage?

[icyfroth]

---

@just_me_karen wrote:
IMO margie abbott is an absolute disgrace.

She has the opportunity to do good for the Australian community. She is squandering the chance and media coverage, a typically selfish conservative attitude.

Disgraceful.

And I would never refer to her as First Lady.

---

There are some women I'd call a disgrace, but it wouldn't be Mrs Abbott.

[just_me_karen]

Excuse me?

[just_me_karen]

Perhaps that's how conservative people think, like margie abbott.

If she cared about the community, she'd adopt a cause and use this incredible media opportunity to do good. Instead, she chooses to do almost nothing.

That is disgraceful, IMO.

[lakeland27]

 A dereliction of a timeless duty karen ..