Each year, the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Board nominates individuals for Honorary Membership of the National Trust in recognition of their distinguished service to the organisation. In 2025, the nominees are:
Jock Murphy
Jock Murphy is a respected librarian who has held positions including Manuscripts Librarian at the State Library of Victoria and Director of Collections at the University of Melbourne (2008–2013). He has played a key role in the acquisition of nationally significant heritage collections and, in semi-retirement, continues to share his expertise through Cultural Gifts Program valuations of archives and manuscripts.
Jock has provided long and distinguished service to the National Trust, serving on the Board from 1977–1987 and again from 2015–2024. He chaired the Governance & Risk Committee (2016–2024) and contributed to the Collections & Programming and Finance & Audit Committees, as well as representing the Trust on the Australian Council of National Trusts (2015–2021).
Nance Houen, Elizabeth Howcroft, Deborah Bannister and Betty Spangaro
Nance Houen, Elizabeth Howcroft, Deborah Bannister and Betty Spangaro have been the driving force behind the National Trust’s Vintage Clothing and Collectable Sale. What began in 2010 as a small garage sale, sparked by Nance and Elizabeth’s idea to rehome items from the costume collection, has grown into one of the Trust’s most successful fundraising events, celebrating its 15th year in 2025
Their collective dedication and countless volunteer hours spent sorting donations, preparing collections, and running the sale have made a lasting contribution to the Trust’s work and community engagement.
