We remember and honour the members of NHAA who have passed, celebrating their dedication, wisdom, and the lasting impact they made on the naturopathic and herbal medicine community. Their contributions, mentorship, and passion continue to inspire us, and their legacy lives on through the lives they touched and the profession they helped shape.
“Remembrance is memory with heart” – Sue Evans – Life Member
Henry Oseicki
1949 – 2025
Henry Osiecki, a pioneering figure in our profession and founder of BioConcepts. A distinguished nutritional biochemist, Henry was a trailblazer in developing some of Australia’s first nutrient supplements, including CoEnzyme Q10, and his influential works—most notably The Nutrient Bible—shaped the education of countless students and practitioners in naturopathy and nutrition. Known for his larger-than-life presence, warmth, philosophical nature, and brilliant mind, Henry inspired admiration and affection across the profession. He will be deeply missed, and his remarkable legacy will continue through his contributions to nutritional science and his beloved family—his wife, Dr. Vera, and their children, Michael and Mariangela.
Robyn Kirby
2025
Former NHAA President Robyn Kirby was the first female president, fellow and life member of the association.
“Robyn travelled widely on behalf of the NHAA, working tirelessly to secure accreditation for naturopathic training and to spread the powerful message: Herbs, the first medicine”. – Peter Mitchell, Robyn’s son
Robyn’s dedication and legacy will live on in the profession she helped shape.
Linda Bates
1950 – 2024
A fourth-generation herbalist, wise elder, and devoted teacher whose life was steeped in the love of plants. After studying with Dorothy Hall, Linda established her Sydney practice in the 1980s and went on to help thousands of patients over four decades, often treating multiple generations of families. Renowned for her deep knowledge of fresh plant tinctures, she spent a decade in the Blue Mountains cultivating and crafting over 100 remedies for her dispensary. A passionate educator and mentor, Linda generously shared her traditional wisdom, inspiring countless students with her belief that “healing only happens with love.” A long-time friend of the NHAA, she served on the Board, presented at conferences, contributed to practitioner education and the Environment and Sustainability SIG, and was honoured as a Life Member in 2023 for her outstanding service to herbal medicine in Australia.
Emeritus Professor Stephen Myers
1956 – 2024
A founder in our profession and a world-class researcher, mentor, educator, and advocator in integrative and complementary medicine. He was also a kind and considerate person, always willing to help and support others. He played a major part in NHAA and our special interest groups.
Emeritus Professor Myers was the Director of the NatMed-Research Unit based at Southern Cross University. He was one of Australia’s leaders in natural, complementary, and integrative medicine having spearheaded its development as a University academic discipline over the past 25 years. He has qualifications in naturopathic medicine (ND), western medicine (BMed) and pharmacology (PhD). He has raised over $8 million dollars in research funding; managed over 50 clinical trials looking at the pharmacology of natural products in a wide range of conditions; supervised 17 higher degree research students to completion; authored 3 books, 10 book chapters, 101 peer-reviewed journal papers; and acted as a consultant to industry, government and academia across a broad range of issues. In 2004 he received the Lady Cilento Award from the Complementary Healthcare Council (now Complementary Medicines Australia) for a significant and sustained contribution to the field of complementary medicine over many years.