Alice Nolan Elphick, (4 August 1921 – 20 June 2008), probably better known as Sister Mary Bernice Elphick, was a nun of the

Sisters of Charity of Australia The Sisters of Charity of Australia (who use the postnominal initials of RSC) is a congregation of religious sisters in the Catholic Church who have served the people of Australia since 1838. History Mother Mary Aikenhead, who had founded the R ...

with a long and prestigious record of service to health.Sister Mary Bernice Elphick
, Sisters of Charity of Australia.

Biography

Elphick was born on 4 August 1921, in country Victoria (Foster, South Gippsland) and completed her high school education and nursing training in Melbourne. She entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of Charity on 2 July 1943, and was professed on 14 January 1946. Her 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. In recognition of her service, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1977,OBE
Queen's Birthday 1977 a

Member of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Order (distinction), honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarchy of Australia, Queen of Aus ...

(AM) in 1986,AM
Australia Day 1986 and a

Companion of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...

(AC) in 2006.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." In 2002, a fund raising rose for the Victor Chang Institute was named after her. In 2004, a wing at the St Vincent's Hospital in Darlinghurst was named in her honour.Danielle Teutsch (18 April 2004
"The one woman in the world Kerry can't say no to"
''The Sun-Herald'' She retired in 1997, and died at the St Joseph's Aged Care Facility, Kensington (Sydney) on 20 June 2008.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Elphick, Alice 1921 births 2008 deaths 20th-century Australian Roman Catholic nuns Companions of the Order of Australia Australian Officers of the Order of the British Empire