With the passing of Sister Elizabeth Lusby OP, Australia has lost a living link to the sacrifices of an heroic war-time generation and the Dominican Sisters have lost a great and good-humoured servant, whose long life spanned the old ways and new. Born in Kempsey in 1924, Elizabeth died in Sydney 97 years later - just pipping the family record held by her grandfather John Lusby Snr, who had been born the day Queen Victoria acceded the throne and died 96 years later, a minor celebrity in Sydney for his memories of early colonial life.
Her father John Lusby Jnr was an itinerant teacher, who found love at first sight (and "all sights after") with north coast girl Caroline Fitzhenry. His work kept the family moving from country town to country town, until they settled at Sydney in time for the Depression. Elizabeth's early memories were of the family home at Coogee, and later Roseville. She was the youngest of six siblings: Eldest Jack grew to be a cartoonist and writer for The Bulletin, Maurice a scientist, Gwen a doctor, Bob a soldier and Judith a teacher. As children, the bright young Lusbys honed their language skills on word plays.
