Kerry Lyn Jones (born 19 April 1956) is the current executive director of the Constitution Education Fund Australia (CEFA). Following a Bachelor of Music in 1977 and a Diploma of Education in 1978, Jones taught music in Sydney high schools. In 1985 she was appointed by the NSW Education Department as Performing Arts Consultant (K-12) for the Riverina Region. Her work included teacher training and syllabus implementation, bi-centenary and other special music projects such as regional bands and choirs, and special arts projects including working with indigenous Australians on the far west border of NSW. She later completed a Master of Educational Administration. From 1990 to 1993, Jones was chief executive officer of the National Association of Nursing Homes and Private Hospitals. In 1994 Jones was appointed executive director of

Australians for Constitutional Monarchy Australians for Constitutional Monarchy (ACM) is a group that aims to preserve Australia's current constitutional monarchy, with Charles III as King of Australia. The group states that it is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organisation whose rol ...

following The Hon.

Tony Abbott Anthony John Abbott (; born 4 November 1957) is a former Australian politician who served as the 28th prime minister of Australia from 2013 to 2015. He held office as the leader of the Liberal Party of Australia. Abbott was born in Londo ...

stepping down from the post, due to being elected to the Federal Parliament. In 1998 she was elected as a member of the

Australian Constitutional Convention 1998 The 1998 Australian Constitutional Convention was a Constitutional Convention which gathered at Old Parliament House, Canberra from 2 to 13 February 1998. It was called by the Howard Government to discuss whether Australia should become a rep ...

. As leader of ACM, she defended the

Australian Constitution The Constitution of Australia (or Australian Constitution) is a constitutional document that is supreme law in Australia. It establishes Australia as a federation under a constitutional monarchy and outlines the structure and powers of the ...

, saying "no republic model will ever offer the protection and safeguards that work so well in our current Constitution". She said her task was to "assess each republican model against the Constitution that has served us so well". She told the convention: In 1999 she was appointed by the Federal Government to chair the “No Case Committee” for the

1999 Australian republic referendum The Australian republic referendum held on 6 November 1999 was a two-question referendum to amend the Constitution of Australia. The first question asked whether Australia should become a republic with a President appointed by Parliament foll ...

, ultimately leading the “No Case” to a successful result. By leading the campaign against a Republic, Jones became a public figure and was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2000. In 2001 Jones was appointed executive director of the Constitution Education Fund Australia (CEFA). Devoted to nonpartisan Civics, Citizenship and Values Education Programs, Projects and Awards the CEFA charity empowers young Australians to become knowledgeable, responsible and engaged participants in the Australian community. Kerry sees her community work with CEFA as vital for the future of an informed and vibrant Australian democracy. Kerry now devotes her full-time work to this community cause and sees her primary life work as an educationalist. Jones is the publisher and editor of ''Aboriginal Arts in Transition'' (1989), ''The No Case Papers'' (1999), ''The Australian Constitutional Monarchy'' (1994), ''The ACM Handbook'' (1996) and ''The People's Protest'' (2000).

References

External links

Constitution Education Fund AustraliaPortrait of Kerry Jones taken at the Constitutional Convention, Canberra, February 2-13, 1998
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Kerry 1956 births Living people Australian people of Irish descent Australian Roman Catholics Australian monarchists Delegates to the Australian Constitutional Convention 1998