History of HEIA

The Domestic Science Association was founded on 27 April 1927. The name was later changed to the Home Economics Association of Victoria (HEAV). Before 1927, Domestic Science teachers in Victoria met socially.

Following the formation of the Home Economics Association of Australia (HEAA) in Melbourne in September 1965, the name 'Home Economics Association of Australia - Victorian Branch' was adopted. At this stage, there were Home Economics associations in Victoria, Tasmania, and New South Wales, a Home Science association in Queensland, the Girls' Craft Teachers Association of South Australia, and the Home Science Teachers Union in Western Australia. The Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory formed their associations and joined later.

Members of the various state and territory associations automatically became members of the Home Economics Association of Australia.

A restructuring of the Home Economics Association of Australia (HEAA) led to the formation of the Home Economics Institute of Australia (HEIA). From this point, all states and territories became divisions of the Home Economics Institute of Australia. A home economist now joins the Home Economics Institute of Australia and automatically becomes a member of the state or territory branch in which they reside. HEIA celebrated its 10th anniversary in Canberra in 2005. The history (Herstory) of the HEIA was published in 2005.

A restructure of HEIA(ACT), HEIA(NT), HEIA(SA), HEIA(Tas), and HEIA(V) in 2019 resulted in their merging into a single entity within HEIA, while HEIA(NSW), HEIA(Q), and HEIA(WA) retained their separate incorporations.

Timeline of HEIA office bearer appointments

On 13 November 1993, the Home Economics Association of Australia Inc. (HEAA Inc.) changed its name to the Home Economics Institute of Australia Inc. (HEIA Inc.), with all members of HEAA Inc. automatically becoming members of HEIA Inc. The organisation's branches became Divisions, and the national office bearers of HEAA Inc. transitioned to HEIA Inc. until the first Annual General Meeting. At the time Rosemary Cramp assumed the role of President in November 1993, with Annette Emmet as Secretary, Judith Sweet as Treasurer, and Margot Miller as Executive Member. At the March 1995 meeting, Janet Reynolds was elected as the inaugural HEIA President, Donna Pendergast as Secretary, Betty Smith as Treasurer, and Jane Dewing as an Executive Member.

The following table lists the office bearers of HEIA since its establishment, with names provided for each year based on the annual general meeting elections of that year.

Year

President

Secretary

Treasurer

Executive Member

1993 (from November)

Rosemary Cramp

Annette Emmet

Judith Sweet

Margot Miller

1994

Dr Janet Reynolds

Donna Pendergast

Betty Smith

Jane Dewing

1995

Dr Janet Reynolds

Donna Pendergast

Betty Smith

Jane Dewing

1996

Heather Crawford

Louise Godwin

Betty Smith

Jane Dewing

1997

Heather Crawford

Louise Godwin

Dr Janet Reynolds

Betty Smith

1998

Marilyn Yates

Carol Elias

Dr Janet Reynolds

Betty Smith

1999

Marilyn Yates

Carol Elias

Dr Janet Reynolds

Betty Smith

2000

Dr Donna Pendergast

Carol Elias

Dr Janet Reynolds

Elizabeth Donnelly

2001

Dr Donna Pendergast

Carol Kotz

Dr Janet Reynolds

Elizabeth Donnelly

2002

Gillian Ginn

Carol Kotz

Dr Janet Reynolds

Elizabeth Donnelly

2003

Gillian Ginn

Carol Kotz

Dr Janet Reynolds

Elizabeth Donnelly

2004

Carol Elias

Christina Tassell

Dr Janet Reynolds

Gail Clarkson

2005

Carol Elias

Christina Tassell

Carol Kotz

Leanne Compton

2006

Julie Taylor

Aileen Lockhart

Carol Kotz

Leanne Compton

2007

Julie Taylor

Aileen Lockhart

Carol Kotz

Leanne Compton

2008

Leanne Compton

Aileen Lockhart

Carol Kotz

Jill Cooney

2009

Leanne Compton

Aileen Lockhart

Carol Kotz

Sneza Ilic (Stamenkovic)

2010

Miriam McDonald

Aileen Lockhart

Carol Kotz

Kiri Valsamis

2011

Miriam McDonald

Aileen Lockhart

Carol Kotz

Kiri Valsamis

2012

Karen Weitnauer

Aileen Lockhart

Carol Kotz

Kiri Valsamis

2013

Karen Weitnauer

Aileen Lockhart

Carol Kotz

Carmel Glasgow

2014

Peta Craig

Aileen Lockhart

Carol Kotz

Carmel Glasgow

2015

Peta Craig

Aileen Lockhart

Cheryl Sonter

Carmel Glasgow

2016

Kay York

Aileen Lockhart

Cheryl Sonter

Carmel Glasgow

2017

Kay York

Carmel Glasgow

Cheryl Sonter

Delia Stecher

2018

Kay York

Carmel Glasgow

Cheryl Sonter

Delia Stecher

2019

Kay York

Carmel Glasgow

Cheryl Sonter

Amanda Sutton

2020

Kay York

Susannah Upham

Robert Ford

Amanda Sutton

2021

Cheryl Sonter

Susannah Upham

Robert Ford

Amanda Sutton

2022

Cheryl Sonter

Susan Brandt

Robert Ford

Amanda Sutton

2023

Cheryl Sonter

Susan Brandt

Rhonda McInnes

Ngaire Mayo

2024

Dr Leanne Compton

Ngaire Mayo

Rhonda McInnes
Denise Cullen

Tina Sketchley

2025 Dr Leanne Compton Ngaire Mayo Denise Cullen Adrienne McMahon