Rose Porteous

Rose Porteous (née Lacson, formerly Teodoro, and Hancock, born Rosario Amparo Tagadita Magdalena Lacson, 26 October 1948), a Filipino-born Australian, is best known for her marriage to Lang Hancock, a Western Australia iron ore mining magnate, and the protracted legal battle with her step-daughter, Gina Rinehart, over the circumstances that led to the death of Hancock, and the distribution of his estate. The action, commenced by Rinehart in 1992, was eventually settled in 2003 following a coronial inquiry that determined Hancock died of natural causes. Porteous, who lives in Perth and Melbourne, Victoria, is often referred to by the media as a socialite.

Biography

Born in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines, Porteous is the daughter of Nicolas Lacson and Amparo Lacson. Her grandfather, General Aniceto Lacson, was a prominent military figure in Negros Occidental during the Philippine Revolution while her uncle, Arsenio Lacson, was the first elected mayor of Manila.

After spending time in Hong Kong, Spain, Singapore and Malaysia, Porteous arrived in Australia in 1983 on a three-month working visa. Porteous began working as a maid for the newly widowed Hancock.