SACOSS celebrates the contributions of all our life members, who have contributed significantly to where we are today. On this page we commemorate life members who are no longer with us.
Mr Michael Wooley
SACOSS was saddened at the loss of Life Member Mr Michael Wooley on 2 May 2013. He was a proud member and supporter of SACOSS and served on the SACOSS Executive for several years and regularly participated in other committees and activities auspiced by SACOSS. Michael was also awarded Honorary Life Membership of Novita Children’s Services at their 2004 Annual General Meeting in recognition of his services to that organisation. You can read more on Michael's contribution to the disability sector in South Australia on the Novita website by clicking here(link is external).
Dr Judith Roberts AO
Respected Life Member Dr Judith Roberts AO passed away on 16 February 2015. Judith was a strong supporter of SACOSS and her involvement with our organisation continued up until very recently before her death. Judith was on the SACOSS Executive Committee for 5 years in the early 1980s, and was President in 1983. She also represented SACOSS on the ACOSS Board, and served on a range of Committees. She was a passionate and hardworking member of the community services sector and a strong supporter of SACOSS. In 2014 Judith said: "Some would contend that many older South Australians live in what is described as ‘genteel poverty’. Poverty is never genteel, it crushes the human spirit. SACOSS advocates strongly for those persons who live in poverty by promoting social equity and social justice."
Mrs Grethe Brown
SACOSS was saddened to hear of the passing of Life Member Mrs Grethe Brown after a long battle with cancer on 7 June 2016. Along with her husband Harvey, Grethe spent many, many years volunteering for SACOSS. Our deepest condolences go out to her family and those closest to her.
Miss Daphne Gum MBE, OBE
Vale Miss Daphne Gum MBE, OBE - SACOSS Life Member Daphne Gum was the last Chair of Marjorie Black House Inc. and died on 28 February 2017 at the fine age of 101. One of the things that makes Daphne so important to SACOSS is that it was through negotiations with Daphne, Ross Womersley (current SACOSS CE) and Karen Grogan (former CE) that we came to inherit this property at 47 King William Road. It was originally purchased by mortgage with Marjorie Black together with Rev. Erwin Vogt as signatories, for new clubrooms to accommodate Marjorie Black’s Club of “precious people”: a series of friendship and activity groups for people who were variously lonely, living in boarding houses, had mental health issues etc, who had previously been meeting and gathering in the basement rooms of Brougham Place Church since 1958. Daphne took over as Chair of MBH Inc. when Marjorie Black herself was no longer able to carry on. She leaves a younger sister and several nieces and nephews to whom we extend our deepest sympathies.
Phillip Beddall
Phillip Beddall was a dear friend and colleague of SACOSS, and a fierce, untiring advocate within the disability community. He first joined our SACOSS Policy Council in 2002, and was awarded a life membership in 2007 as recognition for his outstanding service to SACOSS and the broader community. He represented SACOSS on many external committees including with the SA Dental Service, where he assumed the role of Chair of its Advisory Committee, as well as on internal Policy Advocacy Groups concerned with Disability, Health, and Essential Services. He continued to sit on our Policy Council as an individual member and in more recent years was its Deputy Chair. We remain extremely proud to have had him as a member, an ambassador, and an ally.
Joy Noble AM
We were deeply saddened at the passing in July 2020 of passionate SACOSS life member Joy Noble AM, aged 95. On retirement Joy started the SA Volunteer Centre, now known as Volunteering SA&NT in 1982 alongside Mavis Reynolds OAM. Joy’s career was in social work and community development and she held positions in Australia and New Guinea. She was the first person in Australia to author books on volunteer management and co-edited the Australian Journal on Volunteering for its first three years. Joy was a powerhouse in the volunteering sector and a truly inspirational woman. South Australia's highest distinction for an individual volunteer, ‘The Joy Noble Medal’ was named in her honour.