On 9 December 1986, Norm Henry was made the Society's honorary life member, thus joining Kol Star, Barbara Falk, Ilma Brewer, Peter Karmel, and Ernest Roe.  Norman was thus honoured because of the contribution he has made to the Society and its objects since the foundation of the Society in 1972. Norm was a foundation member of the committee and attended every conference of the Society from its first workshop in Perth, August 1973 until the Auckland conference, August 1985. Norm was secretary of the Society 1976-77. With support from the President of that year, Dr Barbara Falk and Ian Dunn, Norm and Jackie Lublin organised the Society's third conference, held in Melbourne at International House in May 1976.

Norm was a secondary teacher with the Victorian Education Department, teaching during the 1950s and 1960s at Yallourn High School and Melbourne High School, among others. He also did method work for the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne in the mid-1960s. He then joined Monash Teachers College and became head of the department of chemistry. After an interlude in the financial securities business, he was appointed Head of the Education Unit at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in February 1972. (The position had originally been called "Principal Lecturer in Educational Methods and Training".) Over the years he was able to develop a successful unit which made a significant contribution to the development of teaching and learning in one of Australia's most prestigious tertiary education  nstitutions. The 1970s was one of its more turbulent periods, and over the years Norm came to be seen as a person who exerted a moderating influence and was able to foster harmony. This was the kind of contribution Norm was able to make to the Society too, especially in its early formative years. 

In his personal relationships Norm stood for hospitality and friendship, especially apparent when he hosted a number of overseas visitors such as Colin Flood-Page, Dietrich Brandt and Alan Tucker. In this way he contributed to the development of HERDSA as a network with important overseas connections, helping to keep staff in Australia up to date with overseas developments. In August 1986 Norm retired owing to ill health, and has spent  a considerable amount of his time further developing his hobby farm in Gembrook. Society members look upon Norm with love and respect, and wish him all the best for the future.

Vale Norm Henry
HERDSA News 1999 Vol. 11 No. 3

With a deep sense of loss, we inform the membership of IHERDSA of the death of Honorary Life Member Norm Henry. Norm retired from his position as Head of the Education Unit at Royal Melboume Institute of Technology in 1986 because of ill health. His recent death deprives us all of a valued colleague and a dear friend.

Norm began his career as a secondary teacher with the Victorian Education Department, teaching during the 1950s and 1960s at a number of schools, including Yallourn High School and Melbourne High School. He further contributed to school education in Victoria by offering instruction in teaching methods through the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne in the mid-1960s. Subsequently, he joined the Monash Teachers College and became Head of the Department of Chemistry.

Versatility was one of Norm's qualities and he entered the financial securities business briefly, but education called again and he joined the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in February 1972, developing the original position of Principal Lecturer in Educational Methods and Training into the Headship of one of the most successful units in Australia. Norm's leadership resulted in a significant contribution to the development of teaching and learning in one of Australia's most prestigious and most diverse tertiary institutions.

Norm's association with HERDSA began with the foundation of the Society. He was a foundation member of the Committee in the early 70's and actively contributed to the growth of the Society to the large and vital organization it has become. It is a measure of his commitment that he attended every conference of the Society from its first workshop in Perth in August 1973 until the Auckland conference in 1985. Norm was Secretary of the Society in 1916-71. He was instrumental in organising the Society's third conference, held in Melbourne at International House in May 1976.

With friends throughout the world, Norm will be remembered for his warm hospitality. He often hosted overseas visitors who contributed to the field of higher education research and development in Australia. Norm's unselfish sharing of resources and expertise helped build the HERDSA network and the atmosphere of collaboration which makes our Society unusually welcoming to people from many different areas of higher education.

For the many of us who were privileged to spend time with Norm at different times and in different places, the memory of an impish smile, a wicked sense of humour and an infectious chuckle will linger along with constant reminders of his contributions to our professional lives.