Mary Philippa Brazill was born in Ireland in 1897. At the age of fifteen she left Ireland and came to Australia to finish her secondary education and to join the Sisters of Mercy. In 1928 she graduated as a nurse at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane and returned to Melbourne where she quickly showed a flair for that profession.
When the sisters wanted to establish a private maternity hospital in Melbourne, the then premier preferred a private and intermediate hospital which would include surgical and general care. As this was to be the first hospital of this kind in Australia, Sr. Francis Hanigan and Sr. Philippa spent six months in America finding out about similar institutions. In 1935, Sr. Francis and Sr. Philippa were co-founders of the Mercy Hospital in Melbourne. Sr. Philippa became an inspiring leader in the provision of health care in Melbourne. She was respected by surgeons, physicians, nurses and patients alike. Together with Sr. Francis, she had a formidable reputation for administration.
Sr. Philippa was Superior and Administrator of the Mercy hospital for two extended periods. She was Provincial of the Mercy Congregation for six years from 1954. She was also responsible for the planning and early operation of the Mercy maternity Hospital in Melbourne which was opened in 1971.
In 1979 (having refused the honour earlier) Sr. Philippa was appointed Dame Commander of the British Empire for her contribution to the Community and to health care. In 1981 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws for her role in obtaining a chair of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Melbourne for the Mercy maternity Hospital. Sr. Philippa was the first Australian nun to receive either of these honours.
On 1st January 1988, after a long illness, Philippa Brazill died. She was only nine days away from celebrating the 70th anniversary of her religious profession.
The Foundation exists to provide financial support for:
- Individuals to undertake studies in, or conduct research in ethics, in particular, the ethics of health care.
- Individuals to attend conferences, seminars and lectures in ethics, in particular, the ethics of health care.
- Individuals to sponsor or conduct conferences, seminars or lectures on ethics, in particular, the ethics of health care.
The Mary Philippa Brazill Foundation was established in 1993 by the Congregational Leaders of the Sisters of Mercy in Melbourne, The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (the Loreto Sisters), the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, the Sisters, Faithful Companions of Jesus, and Dr. Bernadette Tobin.
Congregational Leader
Sisters of Mercy (Melbourne)Congregational Leader
Institute of the Blessed Virgin MaryCongregational Leader
Sisters, Faithful Companions of JesusDr. Bernadette Tobin
