Chambers, Joan Heywood (1930 - )

Joan Chambers was a member of the Legislative Assembly for the seat of Ballarat South in the Victorian Parliament from 1979-82. She served on the Subordinate Legislation Committee in 1979 and the Public Review Committee, 1980-82. She joined the Mortlake branch of the Liberal Party of Australia in 1969.She stood as an Independent candidate in the Legislative Assembly seat of Ballarat West at the state election, which was held on 3 October 1992.

Joan Chambers was the daughter of James McNab Murray, a company manager and Annie Hale Shaw. Educated at Ormond State School, Tintern Church of England Girls' Grammar School and the University of Melbourne, she qualified as a secondary school teacher in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and Diploma of Education. Her teaching career included appointments at Kyabram High School in 1952, Hampton High School 1953, Mortlake High School 1968-77 and Ballarat High School 1978-79 and 1982-1990?

On 15 November 1953 she married John Alexander Chambers, a soldier settler farmer. They had six children, two daughters and four sons.

Her community involvement included serving on the Ballarat Regional and Alcohol Dependence Association and the Ballarat Emergency Accommodation Committee. She was a member of the Mathematical Association of Victoria and a Presbyterian-Uniting Church Elder.