ACAL Presidents

and Executive support

ACAL has been served by a succession of generous people – generous with their time and experience often adding the ACAL presidency to already demanding professional and personal roles.

They have lead committees who have also managed to find a ‘little extra’ to give to the wider community.

Photos are few and far between but their names are recorded and their roles gratefully acknowledged.

Help us add to this list or correct the details.

Arch Nelson was the first Chair* back in 1976 and continued until 1984 when he become patron for another five years.

Then we’ve found the following

1984 Noel Simpson *title
1985 Noel Simpson
1986 Noel Simpson
1987 Noel Simpson
1988 Noel Simpson
1989 Noel Simpson
1989 Acting President Rosie Wickert
1990 Roy Pugh (TAS)
1991 Rosa McKenna (VIC)
1992 Marie Persson (Qld)
1993 Nancy Veal
1994 Ann Kelly (QLD)
1995 Ann Kelly (QLD)
1996 Ann Kelly (QLD)
1997 Peter Holden (NSW)
1998 Jennie Bickmore-Brand
1999 Rosa McKenna (VIC)
2000 Geraldine Castleton (QLD)
2001 Geraldine Castleton (QLD)
2002 Jim Thompson (WA)
2003 Jim Thompson (WA)
2004 Jim Thompson (WA)
2005 Co-Presidents Jan Hagston and Pauline O’Maley (VIC)
2006 Margaret McHugh (WA)
2007 Margaret McHugh (WA)
2008 Margaret McHugh (WA)
2009 Margaret McHugh (WA)
2010 Geri Pancini (VIC)
2011 Geri Pancini (VIC)
2012 Geri Pancini (VIC)
2013 Jenni Anderson (TAS)
2014 Jenni Anderson (TAS)
2015 Jenni Anderson (TAS)
2016 Jenni Anderson (TAS)
2017 Co-Presidents Daniella Mayer (VIC) and Jo Medlin (NSW)
2018 Co-Presidents Daniella Mayer (VIC) and Jo Medlin (NSW)
2019 Co-Presidents Daniella Mayer (VIC) and Jo Medlin (NSW)
2020 Jo Medlin (NSW)
2021 Jo Medlin (NSW)
2022 Jo Medlin (NSW)
2023 Jo Medlin (NSW)
2024 Jo Medlin (NSW)
2025 Jo Medlin (NSW)
2026 Jo Medlin (NSW)

Arch Nelson

President 1976-1984

Roy Pugh

President 1990

Nancy Veal

President 1993

Jim Thompson

President 2002-2004

Pauline O’Maley

Co-President 2005

Geri Pancini

President 2010-2012

Jo Medlin

Co-President 2017-2019, President 2020-current

Noel Simpson

President 1984-1989

Rosa-McKenna

Rosa McKenna

President 1991, 1999

Ann Kelly

President 1994-1997

Jan Hagston

Co-President 2005

Jenni Anderson

President 2013-2016

Daniella Mayer

Co-President 2017-2019

Changing language

In 1984 Noel Simpson wrote “With the consent of the executive, I am using the term “President” to overcome the language diffciculties associated with the “Chair”.”

Executive support

1990 Narelle Callan

1991 Carlene Boucher

1994 Ellie Thompson

?-2005 Alex Tsakmakis

Don MacDowall

2005-2021

Estelle O’Callaghan

2021-current

Advertisement for executive support Dec 1989 (ILY refers to International Literacy Year 1990).