Elaine Elizabeth Darling was born on 6 June 1936 at Brisbane, Queensland.  Before entering politics Darling obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Diploma of Education (Queensland) and worked as a Graduate Assistant to the Director, Brisbane Kindergarten Training College and as a Teacher of English and secretarial skills.
 
In 1974 Darling was elected President of the South Queensland Consumers Association, a position she held until 1983. Darling was also Executive Member and Secretary, Queensland Consumers Association 1978-79 and Convenor, Consumer Education Advisory Committee, Australian Federation of Consumer Organisations 1979-80.  

From 1976-77 Darling was also a member of Action for World Development and from 1979-80 she was a member of World Vision.  
At the local level, Darling held positions of Vice-President, Banyo Community Association from 1978-80;  Trustee, Nudgee Kindergarten Association 1980 and Patron of the Northside Benevolent Committee in 1980.
 
Darling entered Federal Parliament as the Member for Lilley, Queensland on 18 October 1980.

Darling attended the 29th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference in Nairobi from October-November 1983 as Conference Member and the 73rd Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference, Lome, Togo in March 1985 also as Conference Member.
 
Darling has also held office for the Australian Labor Party in the positions of: President, Lilley Federal Division Electorate; Vice President, Nudgee Electorate Executive Council; and, President of the Australian Labor Party's Banyo/Northgate East Branch.

Darling was also a member of the Australian War Memorial Council from 1983-87.

Sources

1. Parliamentary Handbook of the Commonwealth of Australia, 1988, 
   pp 84-85
2. Who's Who in Australia, 1988, p 244