Bernice Smith

Bernice Smith was born in Bega in 1903. Her father, Walter Smith, was Editor of the Bega newspaper for 47 years.

Bernice attended St Joseph’s Convent School in Bega before moving to Sydney to train as a nurse at St Vincent’s Hospital. She then worked for the Benevolent Society and the Royal Hospital for Women before returning to Bega in 1930.

She worked as a midwife and nurse at Bega Hospital before electing to practice as a private nurse, caring for people in their homes. She delivered over 2,000 babies and became known as ‘the Florence Nightingale of the Far South Coast’, attending to patients and mothers-to-be at all hours of the day and night.

Bernice also had a keen interest in history, and started collecting objects of local significance or with interesting local stories attached to them. It is said that, knowing what was in the homes of those who were her patients, she would occasionally offer to waive her usual fees if she was given pieces that she had spotted and was wanting to add to her collection. Being very well respected, her requests were often met.

Ultimately, her own private collection became the basis of the Bega Pioneers’ Museum’s now-extensive collection of artefacts from Bega and the surrounding districts.

Bernice was instrumental in setting up the Bega Valley Historical Society and the Bega Pioneers’ Museum which, under her guidance, moved into what had originally been the historic Bega Family Hotel building (erected c 1858 and now the second-oldest surviving building in Bega) in April 1977.

Bernice’s elder sister, Leila, had been Head of English and History at Bega High School. When she retired, she worked with Bernice at the Museum.

Bernice Smith was awarded a MBE in 1969.

She died in July 1980, at the age of 76. The Sister Bernice Smith Memorial Playground in Minyama Parade, Bega, perpetuates her memory.