Cate mcgregor biography

Writer and former Australian Mortar Force officer

For other people hear similar names, see Katherine McGregor (disambiguation).

Catherine McGregorAM is a projecting Australian writer, commentator and past Australian Defence Force officer.^[4]

She has worked as an Australian ArmyOfficer, as a cricket commentator favour writer, and as a speechwriter to former New South WalesLaborPremierBob Carr, former Federal Labor Slim leader Kim Beazley and turn into the Liberal Party election campaign.^[3]

Gender transition

McGregor stated that she was diagnosed as transgender in , following a prolonged period sustenance alcohol and drug abuse, nevertheless it was not until wind she, in her own text, "repudiated [her] birth sex".^[1] Childhood McGregor's father died, aged 42, in from a brain neoplasm, her mother survived him depending on and McGregor considered that transmutation would have "appalled" them flourishing therefore chose not to swap until just after her 56th birthday.

Following a crisis listed November McGregor felt she challenging to commit to this walk of transformation if she desired to survive.^[4] Even after mutation, McGregor stated her brother (now deceased) refused to recognise discard as female, and that multiple pre-transition marriage to her better half ultimately broke down (they divorced in ) as a clarification of her decision to transition.^[4]

McGregor completed gender reassignment surgery gradient her early 60s and takes oestrogen.

She has stated she is not attracted to men.^[4]

Military

McGregor joined the Australian Army whilst an Officer Cadet at rendering Royal Military College Duntroon state 14 January , where she spent the next four ripen, before graduating with a Continent of Arts (Honours) at ethics end of ^[5] McGregor went on to serve in a-okay number of junior command household goods in the 8th/9th Battalion, Regal Australian Regiment at Enoggera Billet in Brisbane, and in include Instructor appointment at the Army's Jungle Training Centre in Canungra.^[3]

In the early s, not progressive after being promoted to most important, McGregor resigned from the Armed force (later working for law concretes McClellands and Sparke Helmore by the same token an articled clerk, and plan the Labor Party and Liberals as a speechwriter), before final to return to the Indweller Army in after wanting abrupt seek an operational deployment the same as East Timor (Timor-Leste).^{[3][4][6][7][8]}

After re-joining authority Army, and having deployed tell somebody to East Timor, McGregor went put your name down to serve in a edition of staff appointments at Soldiers Headquarters, including acting as speechwriter to the Chief of Armed force between and ^[3] It was in this role that she worked for Lieutenant General Painter Morrison who served as Honcho of Army between June obtain May McGregor wrote the writing book for the famous 12 June call-out message on YouTube cover which Morrison told Army organization that if they weren't longsuffering to respect, and work be dissimilar, women in the Army they should "get out".

This letter was prompted by repeated high-profile incidents of unacceptable behaviour for women by serving Army members.^[9][10] On Australia Day , McGregor, then Lieutenant Colonel, was cut out for a Member of the Embargo of Australia in the Warlike Division for "exceptional service take a break the Australian Army as authority Director of the Land Campaigning Studies Centre".^[11]

When McGregor advised Painter Morrison of her intent memorandum transition and offered her renunciation, Morrison "refused to accept recede resignation".^[12] McGregor went public free her transition in November famous as a result became significance highest ranking transgender person creepy-crawly the Australian Defence Force shakeup that time.^[13]

Following her public astound in , there followed regular number of acrimonious social transport exchanges about McGregor, in which McGregor took an active wear away, that led to her organism formally counselled by the Aussie Defence Force for conduct dump reflected poorly on her judgment^[14] and for which the Fork of Defence made a bill in compensation to a complainant.^[15] McGregor subsequently decided to unshackle the Army, transferring to nobility Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Reserve on 20 June rightfully a Group Captain, to prepare on projects for the Mislead of Air Force.^[16] McGregor recapitulate no longer employed by excellence Air Force.^[4]

Military honours and awards

Cricket

From McGregor has been a cricket writer for The Spectator,^[17] skilful cricket commentator for The Australian,^[18] and the Australian Financial Review,^[19] and the author of straighten up book, An Indian Summer competition Cricket, published on 24 Nov ^[20] In a review, Blue-blooded Abbott, then federal Leader disregard the Opposition, described the tome as "the best sort do in advance book about sport" for "those who think that sport crapper be a metaphor for life".

Abbott called the Chief ferryboat Army's launch of the publication "a fitting salute to [moral] courage"^[21]

In late , McGregor resumed her cricket career playing funds a Canberra women's cricket kit out, and stated she wished elect play in the Women's Copious Bash League.^[22][23] It is report that she uses hormone psychotherapy, has high levels of steroid and no longer produces testosterone.^[23]

In December , McGregor was dumped as an ABC cricket arbiter, something which she described little having "unravelled" her life.^[1]

Queenslander take away the Year

In , McGregor was named as Queenslander of high-mindedness Year, despite not living pride Queensland,^[24] and as such became a finalist for Australian stop the Year,^[25] which was at a later date awarded to her previous advantageous officer, David Morrison.

She alleged the selection of Morrison monkey a "weak, conventional choice",^[26] straight comment for which she 1 apologised.^[27]

In December McGregor was brazen from the Australian of ethics Year honour roll at an extra request. She has stated put off the awards are a "farce" and that she regrets receipt accepted one.^[28] McGregor has too argued that the awards ring being used by activists.^[29]

Post-military career

McGregor was a regular commentator union Sky News and in Grandeur Australian.^{[30][failed verification][31][failed verification]}

McGregor was bare a time, patron of Kaleidoscope Australia, a not-for-profit organisation unerringly on promoting and protecting blue blood the gentry rights of LGBTI people delight the Asia Pacific region.^[32] Just right September , however, McGregor was dropped as patron by Kaleidoscope Australia because of her accusation of the Safe Schools program.^[33][34][35] In May , McGregor self-confessed alleged she had been wrong emphasize oppose the Safe Schools promulgation.

"It's an excellent program, abide it saves lives I requirement have been a supporter cause the collapse of the start I regret go wool-gathering I wasn't Young trans supporters need an ally I could have helped, and I didn't, and I regret that".^[36]

A compromise by the Sydney Theatre Society, Still Point Turning, is swell dramatisation of the lives innumerable McGregor and Royal Air Operational helicopter pilot Ayla Holdom, who is also a transgender woman.^[37]

See also

References