When Mercy Health Home Care client Florence Gibbs was given three years to live in 1979, she dedicated her remaining time to broadening her knowledge and serving the community. Four decades on, the 92-year-old says her passion for learning new things is as robust as ever.
“I have been very blessed. The only thing I’ve got is a brain,” Florence laughs.
I just love learning — it is who I am.
Florence Gibbs
Humble beginnings on a farm in Katandra West in northern Victoria meant Florence spent her early childhood helping to milk her family’s cows and riding her bicycle to the small country school.
She explains that she was quite a boisterous young child, always up to “trouble”.
“I think I was a handful for my mother because I didn’t fit the Shirley Temple view of how girls should be,” Florence says.
Mercy Health Care Advisor Sanita Prasad says it is stories like these that Florence often shares with the Mercy Health Home Care team when they visit.
“When I first met Florence, I just loved listening to her inspirational story. She has such a positive outlook on life,” Sanita says.
Six days a week, Florence and her husband Ted receive domestic assistance, personal care and support preparing meals to keep them independent and comfortable at home.
While Florence now resides in a tranquil seaside suburb of Melbourne, her life has been anything but ordinary.
Florence Gibbs at home in the garden with one of her mosaic masterpieces.
In her school years, Florence was a star student. She was fast-tracked through secondary school, eventually making her way into nursing at a regional Victorian hospital, before joining the CSIRO as a technical assistant in mathematical statistics in 1963.
“I was programming some of the very early computers, working among scientists who were at the top of their field. It was a wonderful place,” Florence says.
Sadly, Florence’s beloved career with the CSIRO came to an end when she was medically retired due to multiple aneurysms on her vital organs.
“The doctors told me that I would be lucky to survive three years. I decided the best way to help humanity was to upgrade my qualifications so I went back to university to retrain as a psychologist.
“I was 60 when I started my practice. Most of my work was pro-bono with women escaping domestic violence and people who had been bereaved through suicide.”
Despite her prognosis, it would actually be 25 years later, at 85 years old, when Florence eventually retired.
“It was very rewarding work, which is what I wanted to accomplish because I didn’t have long to live — or so I thought!” Florence laughs.
“I would still be working today if I could get to the door to let clients in.”
Outside of her psychology work, Florence is a passionate advocate for her community.
She spent decades in various volunteering roles, including 30 years with the Citizens Advice Bureau and in 2000, established the Kingston [Victoria] for Human Rights Committee.
In 2009, Florence was recognised as City of Kingston Citizen of the Year and in 2012, added to her accolades with an Australian of the Year nomination.
Florence with her 2012 Australian of the Year nomination certificate.
Even in her remaining spare time, the nonagenarian always finds time to pick up new skills. After retirement, she studied mosaic making and has decorated her home with intricate and colourful artworks. Her latest masterpiece: a series of native birds.
As for a message for young women today, Florence enthusiastically shares her words of wisdom.
“We only get one life on this Earth so we need to ensure we fill it. Life will always have hiccups, we can’t help that but don’t give up. Keep learning, keep doing and be true to the journey that you are on.”
International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on 8 March. The theme for International Women’s Day 2023 was ‘Embrace Equity’.
Last reviewed April 4, 2023.