Alice Nolan Elphick, AC, OBE (4 August 1921 – 20 June 2008), probably better known as Sister Mary Bernice Elphick, was a nun of the Sisters of Charity of Australia with a long and prestigious record of service to health.[1][2]

Biography

Elphick was born on 4 August 1921, in country Victoria (Foster, South Gippsland), to Herbert and Sarah Elphick. Her father was both a farmer and a railway engineer. Alice had three brothers and two sisters. Elphick completed her high school education and nursing training in Melbourne.[1][2]

She entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of Charity on 2 July 1943, and was professed on 14 January 1946, taking the name Sister (Sr.) Bernice.[1][2]

Elphick first appointment was in 1946 at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney. She proceeded through a number of positions at various St Vincent's Hospitals around the country. From 1957-1962, she served as the Mother Rectress in Launceston and, from 1963, she served as the Mother Rectress in Sydney, managing the hospital as well as the Convent.[1][2]

In recognition of her service, Elphick was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1977,[3] a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1986,[4] and a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2006.[5][6][7]

In 2002, a fund-raising rose for the Victor Chang Institute was named after her.[1]

In 2004, a wing at the St Vincent's Hospital in Darlinghurst was named in her honour.[8]

Elphick retired in 1997, and died at the St Joseph's Aged Care Facility, Kensington (Sydney) on 20 June 2008.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sister Mary Bernice Elphick Archived 2017-01-09 at the Wayback Machine, Sisters of Charity of Australia.
  2. 1 2 3 4 John Hickie (2 July 2008). "Gentle force behind St Vincent's". Sydney Morning Herald.
  3. ↑ OBE, Queen's Birthday 1977
  4. ↑ AM, Australia Day 1986
  5. ↑ Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), Australia Day 2006, "For service to medicine and to the community as a pioneer in the development of health care and as a driving force in the success of the multi-disciplinary initiatives established at St Vincent's Private Hospital, Sydney."
  6. ↑ Honour for nun Kerry Packer couldn't say no to, 27 Jan 2006, Catholic News
  7. ↑ Australia Day 2006 Honours List - CATHOLIC, 26 Jan 2006, Catholic News
  8. ↑ Danielle Teutsch (18 April 2004) "The one woman in the world Kerry can't say no to", The Sun-Herald
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