Lucy Bryce CBE

Lucy Bryce was born on 12 June 1897 at Lindfield, New South Wales, but later moved to Melbourne.

She was educated at the Melbourne Church of England Girls' Grammar School and received her Bachelor of Science (1918) and Bachelor of Medicine (1922) from the University of Melbourne. She went on to hold research posts at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research from 1922-28 and spent some of this time in London at the Lister Institute. She then went on to become clinical pathologist and bacteriologist at the Royal Melbourne Hospital until 1934 when she entered private practice, while continuing part-time research. Lucy was also made honorary Director of Pathology at the Queen Victoria Hospital.

Lucy is best remembered for her work in establishing Australia's first Blood Transfusion Service in 1929. Working with Dr Eric Cooper, the Victorian division of the Australian Red Cross Society agreed to set up a panel of blood donors, while Lucy, as honorary Director, took charge of the laboratory testing and medical care of the donors. She adopted new blood storage techniques and oversaw ongoing research into blood services.

In 1954, she retired as Director but continued as chair of the transfusion committee until 1966, despite failing health. She wrote numerous scientific articles as well as a history of the blood transfusion service, An Abiding Gladness (1965). In 1951, Lucy was appointed a CBE. She died on 30 July 1968.