(L–R): Olivia Bennett, Leila Kenzler, Prof Donna Pendergast (Advisory Committee member), and Kiara Too.
HEIA(Q) celebrated World Home Economics Day by recognising the 2026 King and Amy O’Malley Trust scholars at their World Home Economics Day event on Saturday 21 March.
This year I had the absolute pleasure of being invited to Moreton Bay College to accept my King and Amy O’Malley Trust scholarship as well as celebrate World Home Economics Day by getting involved in creating and tasting some native foods.
I congratulate all scholars on their achievements and would love to shout out to the Queensland recipients, many of whom I had the pleasure of meeting or catching up with again. This year's Queensland scholars were Leila Kenzler, Elodie Casey, Kiara Too, Katherine Dunn and Olivia Bennett. It is very interesting to catch up with fellow scholars and see how their studies are doing and the different fields we are all going into.
As an O’Malley Trust scholar what I value the most is the connections that I have made and I am making. The home economics community is such a gorgeous and supportive network that as a student, I have received so much guidance through my studies. As I am studying a Bachelor of Education, I have received help and placements in schools where I know members of the faculty through the networking of alumnus scholars or HEIA members. Thoroughly, I enjoy and appreciate the resources that have been provided to help, networking with like minded people and the enthusiasm of the community to educate the next generation of home economics. Which ultimately is what King and Amy O’Malley’s mission and values would have been today.
For those who may not know, a real brief history lesson of King and Amy O’Malley. King O’Malley had an interest in Australian politics; he had much to do with developing key aspects of Australian politics and businesses. He was elected in as Minister of Home Affairs from 1910 to 1913 in the Fisher Government; during this time, he also helped establish the Commonwealth bank. Amy O’Malley had a core value and interest in woman’s rights, politics and effective management of the home. She often would support King and assist him through his different ideas and values. As a pair, they had strong beliefs that welfare came back to strong household management and good management of the home, alongside, cooking is a neglected art which is essential to every household for a healthy and happy life. Ultimately and unofficially, they are considered the founders of home economics. That was only a real brief explanation – their history is definitely more complex and interesting; but Michelle Parente has done an excellent job of finding their history and sharing it via the O’Malley Trust website ( https://www.omalleytrust.org.au/king-omalley ). Please give it a quick look if you’re interested because it is quite informative and important to understand a core part of Australian home economics history.
... and while you are here, feel free to leave a comment, and you could go into the draw to win a prize for the most interesting response. Winner announced at the start of June.
Olivia Bennett, HEIA(Q)
