Shirley Margaret McKerrow OAM (née Gardini; 18 September 1933 – 16 October 2023) was the first woman to serve as federal president of an Australian political party, as president of the National Party from 1981 to 1987.
McKerrow was born to Dante Gardini and Margaret (Peggy), née Kelly.
She attended Genazzano Convent in Kew and Ingergowrie Homecrafts Hostel in Hawthorn before studying at the University of Melbourne.
She served on the central council of the Country Party from 1972 and was a junior vice-president from 1975 to 1976.
[1] In 1980, McKerrow unsuccessfully contested the preselection for the casual vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator James Webster.