Alice Elphick
Alice Nolan Elphick | |
|---|---|
| Born | 4 August 1921 Foster, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 20 June 2008 (aged 86) Kensington, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupations | Nun, nurse and hospital administrator |
| Known for | Leadership and development of health services at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney |
Alice Nolan Elphick, AC, OBE, also known as Sister Mary Bernice Elphick (4 August 1921 – 20 June 2008), was an Australian member of the Sisters of Charity of Australia, nurse and hospital administrator who played a significant role in the development of health and medical research facilities associated with St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney. She was recognised for her contributions to health care with appointments to the Order of the British Empire and the Order of Australia.[1][2]
Elphick was a senior figure in the administration of St Vincent's hospitals and was associated with the establishment and development of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, the rebuilding of St Vincent's Private Hospital, the opening of St Vincent's Clinic and the establishment of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.[1][3]
Early life and nursing career
Elphick was born on 4 August 1921 in Foster, Victoria, in the South Gippsland region of Victoria, to Herbert and Sarah Elphick. Her father was both a farmer and a railway engineer. She had three brothers and two sisters.[1]
In 1938, after completing her Leaving Certificate at University High School in Parkville, she began general nursing training at St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne.[1]
After completing her nursing training, Elphick entered the novitiate of the Sisters of Charity on 2 July 1943. She was professed on 14 January 1946 and took the religious name Sister Bernice.[1][4]
Her first appointment was as a ward sister at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney in 1946. She subsequently served at St Vincent's hospitals in Launceston, Tasmania, and Melbourne, and undertook further training in midwifery at St Vincent's Maternity Hospital in Melbourne.[1]
Hospital administration
Elphick's administrative abilities led to her appointment as Mother Rectress at St Vincent's Hospital in Launceston from 1957 to 1962. During this period she also undertook postgraduate study at the College of Nursing on St Kilda Road in Melbourne.[1]
In 1963, she was appointed Mother Rectress of St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney, where she was responsible for the administration of the hospital as well as the convent.[1]
Her tenure in Sydney coincided with major developments in medical treatment, research and hospital infrastructure. She was involved in the establishment and expansion of several institutions that later became major components of the St Vincent's health precinct.[1]
Development of medical institutions
One of Elphick's major projects was her involvement in the development of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. The institute opened a purpose-built facility adjacent to St Vincent's Hospital in 1963, and Elphick was closely involved in its development.[1][5]
She was also instrumental in the rebuilding of St Vincent's Private Hospital Sydney. The rebuilding programme resulted in the opening of a new hospital facility in 1977.[1][6]
Elphick subsequently played a leading role in the establishment of St Vincent's Clinic, a multidisciplinary medical facility adjacent to the private hospital. The clinic opened in 1990 and became an important part of the St Vincent's medical precinct.[1][7]
She also supported the development of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, which was established in 1994 following the death of cardiac surgeon Victor Chang.[1]
Fundraising and community work
Elphick became known for her fundraising and organisational work in support of health care and medical research. Contemporary accounts described her as a major force behind the development of the St Vincent's health precinct and associated research institutions.[3]
Her work involved building support for capital projects and attracting philanthropic assistance for health services and medical research. Her efforts were recognised by colleagues within the Sisters of Charity, by hospital staff and by supporters of the St Vincent's institutions.[1]
Her fundraising work also contributed to the establishment and development of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. In 2002, a fundraising rose was named after her in recognition of her contribution to the institute.[1]
Honours and awards
Elphick was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1977 Queen's Birthday Honours for service to hospital administration and nursing.[8]
In the 1986 Australia Day Honours, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to hospital administration and nursing.[9]
In the 2006 Australia Day Honours, she was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), the highest level of the order. The official citation recognised her service to medicine and the community as a pioneer in health-care development and as a driving force in multidisciplinary initiatives established at St Vincent's Private Hospital, Sydney.[2]
The Sisters of Charity reported that the investiture for the AC took place at Admiralty House in Kirribilli on 9 March 2006 because Elphick was not well enough to travel to Canberra.[10]
Recognition and legacy
In April 2004, a private wing in the Xavier building at St Vincent's Private Hospital was named the Sister Bernice Wing in her honour. The dedication recognised her more than four decades of association with the St Vincent's Darlinghurst campus and her role in the development of the Garvan Institute, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, hospital redevelopment and St Vincent's Clinic.[11]
St Vincent's Private Hospital later named its Xavier Building in her honour. The hospital describes her as a figure whose vision, courage and commitment contributed substantially to the development of its health-care services.[1]
Her contribution to health care has also been discussed in Australian media accounts following her death, which highlighted her role in establishing or developing several major medical institutions in Sydney.[3]
Retirement and death
Elphick retired from active service in 1997 and moved to the West Street community in Darlinghurst before later moving to St Joseph's Aged Care Facility in Kensington.[1]
She died on 20 June 2008 at the age of 86.[1][3]
Following her death, St Vincent's Hospital paid tribute to her role in the development of the hospital and associated medical institutions. Contemporary reports described her as a driving force behind St Vincent's Private Hospital, the Garvan Institute, the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and St Vincent's Clinic.[3]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "Sister Bernice Elphick". St Vincent's Private Hospital Sydney. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
- 1 2 "Australia Day 2006 Honours" (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia. 26 January 2006. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Tributes flow for charitable nun". ABC News. 23 June 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
- ↑ "Reception and Profession at Pott's Point". Advocate. Vol. LXXIX, no. 4722. Victoria, Australia. 30 January 1946. p. 4. Retrieved 26 August 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Our Heritage". Mary Aikenhead Ministries. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
- ↑ "The Foundation for the Future". St Vincent's Curran Foundation. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
- ↑ "St Vincent's Clinic Celebrates 25 Years". St Vincent's Health Sydney. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
- ↑ "OBE – Sister Mary Bernice Elphick". Australian Government Honours and Awards. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
- ↑ "AM – Sister Mary Bernice Elphick". Australian Government Honours and Awards. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
- ↑ "KIT April 2006" (PDF). Sisters of Charity. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
- ↑ "The Sister Bernice Wing" (PDF). Sisters of Charity. Retrieved 22 August 2026.