Margery Heard, left, pictured in 1988 with Lisa Fitzpatrick, ANMF (Vic Branch) Secretary 2001-2025
ANMF (Vic Branch) has recently learned of the death, at the age of 97, of Margery Heard MBE.
Margery was a registered nurse who, according to her death notice in The Age, gave generously of herself to help others, especially in her devotion to medicine in Vanuatu and with the Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS).
Margery was also a dedicated Royal Australian Nursing Federation (Victorian Branch)* member who served as an RANF Job Rep for many years, as well as being a Branch Councillor from 1987 until 1990. She was also appointed as the Branch Treasurer/Trustee in December 1986 – a difficult role that oversaw the union’s finances in the immediate aftermath of the 1986 50-day strike.
In 1988, Margery was a member of the Council of Independent Nurses (COIN) ticket – alongside a young Lisa Fitzpatrick, who would go onto to become the Branch’s second longest serving Secretary – backing the ultimately successful election of Belinda Morieson as Secretary and ushering in a new era for the Branch.
Margery passed away on 18 July 2026. The Branch sends its condolences to Margery’s family and friends.
* as the ANMF (Vic Branch) was known at the time
