Sister Philippa Brazill

Sister Mary Philippa Brazill, DBE, Honorary LL.D was born Joanna Brazill on Christmas Day 1896 in County Limerick, Ireland. Before commencing her religious training in 1915 she completed her secondary education at Sacred Heart College, Geelong. Sister Philippa, as she preferred to be known, took the religious name of Sister Mary Philippa at her religious profession to the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy on 10 January 1918.

After graduating from the Teachers' Training College at Ascot Vale, she became a teacher in several schools in Victoria, Australia. In 1928 she transferred from teaching to nursing to the nursing staff of St Benedict's Hospital, Malvern, which had been acquired by the Sisters of Mercy to begin their work of caring for the sick.

She completed her training at Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Brisbane. She made a six months tour of American hospitals to gather ideas for incorporation into the plans of the St Benedict's Sisters for the establishment of a Hospital for Women. When the Mercy Private Hospital was opened in 1935, Sister Philippa became the first matron and was primarily responsible for setting its standard of patient care, and for introducing general nurse training.

From 1954 to 1959 she was appointed Provincial of the Sisters of Mercy in Victoria and Tasmania, after which she returned to the Mercy Private Hospital.

In 1979 Sister Philippa was knighted as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for outstanding service to the people of Victoria and beyond, especially in the Health Care Field. On 1 August 1981, the University of Melbourne awarded her the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws in recognition of her services to women and family life. She was the first nun to receive the award from the University. She died 1 January 1988, shortly after her 91st birthday.