'Traditional but unconventional': Sussan Ley pays tribute to mum at funeral

The Advertiser

a day ago

Federal opposition leader Sussan Ley has told of how her mother Angela Braybrooks, as a psychiatric nurse, saved the life of a patient and made it "much better than before".
The remarkable legacy was one of many recalled as the member for Farrer gave the eulogy for the 93 year-old who died on May 17, four days after her daughter became the first woman to lead the federal Liberal Party.
Family and friends gathered at St Matthew's Anglican Church, where Mrs Braybrooks had been a devoted parishioner for decades, for the farewell conducted by Father Peter MacLeod-Miller.
Among the mourners were former National Party leaders Michael McCormack and Barnaby Joyce and Liberal senators Anne Ruston and Michaelia Cash, who sat on a front bench of the nave.
Albury MP Justin Clancy and Albury councillor and former mayor Kylie King also attended.
Ms Ley said her mother's life, which included 61 years of wedlock to Edgar Braybrooks, who died at 103 in 2021, was "traditional but also unconventional".
It included meeting Mr Braybrooks through a dating service and then following him to Nigeria, from where he proposed via telephone while working as a policeman.
"A loving marriage to my father was at the centre of her world, but it did not completely define her," Ms Ley told the congregation.
"Her training as a nurse, her attachment in later life to the Anglican faith, her love of birds and the stars, and her passion for helping those struggling with mental illness, also formed the person she became."
English-born Mrs Braybrooks' professional skill was evident when she migrated to Australia in 1974 and nursed in mental health wards, becoming the psychiatric nurse in charge at a Canberra hospital, "a role she excelled at and loved".
"Only a few months ago, I received an email from a woman who had been looked after by my mother, saying, 'I shall not ever forget the love, care and wisdom she showed'," Ms Ley said.
"'The support saved my life.
"'Not only that, gave my life back to me much better than before.
"'Since little was known about mental illness then, and little to help families, your mother was sent from up above'."
Mrs Braybrooks, growing up as an only child, had to cope with the turbulence of a father who "either did not speak or said horrible things".
He had been a World War I soldier before becoming an Anglican vicar.
"She would say that it took her half her life to get over her childhood," Ms Ley said.
"She turned away from religion for many of her adult years until she realised, through training as a mental health nurse, that her father had clinical depression.
"She understood that his experience, in the trenches of the Western Front, had encouraged him towards both a belief in God, but had also sparked his illness.
"When she finally forgave him, she allowed herself to come back to the church, even studying for a diploma in theology."
Mrs Braybrooks' religious fervour was to the fore in the service, which included an array of hymns, Bible readings and a prayer linked to explorer Sir Francis Drake.
Granddaughter Georgina Ley, whose words were read to the funeral after she was unable to attend due to illness, told of her grandmother's temporal loves, which ranged from Lady Grey tea to cooking to just sitting quietly.
"Granny always had a very full life," she said.
"She was very good at sewing and embroidery, making everything from cushions and dresses, when we were little, to dolls and our library bags for school."
Father MacLeod-Miller, described as Mrs Braybrooks' salvation and friend by Ms Ley, ended the funeral by saying the bells of St Matthew's, "which were also cast in England", would "not be tolling out of sadness, but pealing out of joy".
He then joined Ms Ley in planting Winston Churchill daffodil bulbs in the church grounds at the relatively recent burial site of Mrs Braybrooks' cat Little Tree.
A photo portrait of the pet and a snapshot of Father MacLeod-Miller and Mrs Braybrooks had sat on the coffin throughout the funeral.
Federal opposition leader Sussan Ley has told of how her mother Angela Braybrooks, as a psychiatric nurse, saved the life of a patient and made it "much better than before".
The remarkable legacy was one of many recalled as the member for Farrer gave the eulogy for the 93 year-old who died on May 17, four days after her daughter became the first woman to lead the federal Liberal Party.
Family and friends gathered at St Matthew's Anglican Church, where Mrs Braybrooks had been a devoted parishioner for decades, for the farewell conducted by Father Peter MacLeod-Miller.
Among the mourners were former National Party leaders Michael McCormack and Barnaby Joyce and Liberal senators Anne Ruston and Michaelia Cash, who sat on a front bench of the nave.
Albury MP Justin Clancy and Albury councillor and former mayor Kylie King also attended.
Ms Ley said her mother's life, which included 61 years of wedlock to Edgar Braybrooks, who died at 103 in 2021, was "traditional but also unconventional".
It included meeting Mr Braybrooks through a dating service and then following him to Nigeria, from where he proposed via telephone while working as a policeman.
"A loving marriage to my father was at the centre of her world, but it did not completely define her," Ms Ley told the congregation.
"Her training as a nurse, her attachment in later life to the Anglican faith, her love of birds and the stars, and her passion for helping those struggling with mental illness, also formed the person she became."
English-born Mrs Braybrooks' professional skill was evident when she migrated to Australia in 1974 and nursed in mental health wards, becoming the psychiatric nurse in charge at a Canberra hospital, "a role she excelled at and loved".
"Only a few months ago, I received an email from a woman who had been looked after by my mother, saying, 'I shall not ever forget the love, care and wisdom she showed'," Ms Ley said.
"'The support saved my life.
"'Not only that, gave my life back to me much better than before.
"'Since little was known about mental illness then, and little to help families, your mother was sent from up above'."
Mrs Braybrooks, growing up as an only child, had to cope with the turbulence of a father who "either did not speak or said horrible things".
He had been a World War I soldier before becoming an Anglican vicar.
"She would say that it took her half her life to get over her childhood," Ms Ley said.
"She turned away from religion for many of her adult years until she realised, through training as a mental health nurse, that her father had clinical depression.
"She understood that his experience, in the trenches of the Western Front, had encouraged him towards both a belief in God, but had also sparked his illness.
"When she finally forgave him, she allowed herself to come back to the church, even studying for a diploma in theology."
Mrs Braybrooks' religious fervour was to the fore in the service, which included an array of hymns, Bible readings and a prayer linked to explorer Sir Francis Drake.
Granddaughter Georgina Ley, whose words were read to the funeral after she was unable to attend due to illness, told of her grandmother's temporal loves, which ranged from Lady Grey tea to cooking to just sitting quietly.
"Granny always had a very full life," she said.
"She was very good at sewing and embroidery, making everything from cushions and dresses, when we were little, to dolls and our library bags for school."
Father MacLeod-Miller, described as Mrs Braybrooks' salvation and friend by Ms Ley, ended the funeral by saying the bells of St Matthew's, "which were also cast in England", would "not be tolling out of sadness, but pealing out of joy".
He then joined Ms Ley in planting Winston Churchill daffodil bulbs in the church grounds at the relatively recent burial site of Mrs Braybrooks' cat Little Tree.
A photo portrait of the pet and a snapshot of Father MacLeod-Miller and Mrs Braybrooks had sat on the coffin throughout the funeral.
Federal opposition leader Sussan Ley has told of how her mother Angela Braybrooks, as a psychiatric nurse, saved the life of a patient and made it "much better than before".
The remarkable legacy was one of many recalled as the member for Farrer gave the eulogy for the 93 year-old who died on May 17, four days after her daughter became the first woman to lead the federal Liberal Party.
Family and friends gathered at St Matthew's Anglican Church, where Mrs Braybrooks had been a devoted parishioner for decades, for the farewell conducted by Father Peter MacLeod-Miller.
Among the mourners were former National Party leaders Michael McCormack and Barnaby Joyce and Liberal senators Anne Ruston and Michaelia Cash, who sat on a front bench of the nave.
Albury MP Justin Clancy and Albury councillor and former mayor Kylie King also attended.
Ms Ley said her mother's life, which included 61 years of wedlock to Edgar Braybrooks, who died at 103 in 2021, was "traditional but also unconventional".
It included meeting Mr Braybrooks through a dating service and then following him to Nigeria, from where he proposed via telephone while working as a policeman.
"A loving marriage to my father was at the centre of her world, but it did not completely define her," Ms Ley told the congregation.
"Her training as a nurse, her attachment in later life to the Anglican faith, her love of birds and the stars, and her passion for helping those struggling with mental illness, also formed the person she became."
English-born Mrs Braybrooks' professional skill was evident when she migrated to Australia in 1974 and nursed in mental health wards, becoming the psychiatric nurse in charge at a Canberra hospital, "a role she excelled at and loved".
"Only a few months ago, I received an email from a woman who had been looked after by my mother, saying, 'I shall not ever forget the love, care and wisdom she showed'," Ms Ley said.
"'The support saved my life.
"'Not only that, gave my life back to me much better than before.
"'Since little was known about mental illness then, and little to help families, your mother was sent from up above'."
Mrs Braybrooks, growing up as an only child, had to cope with the turbulence of a father who "either did not speak or said horrible things".
He had been a World War I soldier before becoming an Anglican vicar.
"She would say that it took her half her life to get over her childhood," Ms Ley said.
"She turned away from religion for many of her adult years until she realised, through training as a mental health nurse, that her father had clinical depression.
"She understood that his experience, in the trenches of the Western Front, had encouraged him towards both a belief in God, but had also sparked his illness.
"When she finally forgave him, she allowed herself to come back to the church, even studying for a diploma in theology."
Mrs Braybrooks' religious fervour was to the fore in the service, which included an array of hymns, Bible readings and a prayer linked to explorer Sir Francis Drake.
Granddaughter Georgina Ley, whose words were read to the funeral after she was unable to attend due to illness, told of her grandmother's temporal loves, which ranged from Lady Grey tea to cooking to just sitting quietly.
"Granny always had a very full life," she said.
"She was very good at sewing and embroidery, making everything from cushions and dresses, when we were little, to dolls and our library bags for school."
Father MacLeod-Miller, described as Mrs Braybrooks' salvation and friend by Ms Ley, ended the funeral by saying the bells of St Matthew's, "which were also cast in England", would "not be tolling out of sadness, but pealing out of joy".
He then joined Ms Ley in planting Winston Churchill daffodil bulbs in the church grounds at the relatively recent burial site of Mrs Braybrooks' cat Little Tree.
A photo portrait of the pet and a snapshot of Father MacLeod-Miller and Mrs Braybrooks had sat on the coffin throughout the funeral.
Federal opposition leader Sussan Ley has told of how her mother Angela Braybrooks, as a psychiatric nurse, saved the life of a patient and made it "much better than before".
The remarkable legacy was one of many recalled as the member for Farrer gave the eulogy for the 93 year-old who died on May 17, four days after her daughter became the first woman to lead the federal Liberal Party.
Family and friends gathered at St Matthew's Anglican Church, where Mrs Braybrooks had been a devoted parishioner for decades, for the farewell conducted by Father Peter MacLeod-Miller.
Among the mourners were former National Party leaders Michael McCormack and Barnaby Joyce and Liberal senators Anne Ruston and Michaelia Cash, who sat on a front bench of the nave.
Albury MP Justin Clancy and Albury councillor and former mayor Kylie King also attended.
Ms Ley said her mother's life, which included 61 years of wedlock to Edgar Braybrooks, who died at 103 in 2021, was "traditional but also unconventional".
It included meeting Mr Braybrooks through a dating service and then following him to Nigeria, from where he proposed via telephone while working as a policeman.
"A loving marriage to my father was at the centre of her world, but it did not completely define her," Ms Ley told the congregation.
"Her training as a nurse, her attachment in later life to the Anglican faith, her love of birds and the stars, and her passion for helping those struggling with mental illness, also formed the person she became."
English-born Mrs Braybrooks' professional skill was evident when she migrated to Australia in 1974 and nursed in mental health wards, becoming the psychiatric nurse in charge at a Canberra hospital, "a role she excelled at and loved".
"Only a few months ago, I received an email from a woman who had been looked after by my mother, saying, 'I shall not ever forget the love, care and wisdom she showed'," Ms Ley said.
"'The support saved my life.
"'Not only that, gave my life back to me much better than before.
"'Since little was known about mental illness then, and little to help families, your mother was sent from up above'."
Mrs Braybrooks, growing up as an only child, had to cope with the turbulence of a father who "either did not speak or said horrible things".
He had been a World War I soldier before becoming an Anglican vicar.
"She would say that it took her half her life to get over her childhood," Ms Ley said.
"She turned away from religion for many of her adult years until she realised, through training as a mental health nurse, that her father had clinical depression.
"She understood that his experience, in the trenches of the Western Front, had encouraged him towards both a belief in God, but had also sparked his illness.
"When she finally forgave him, she allowed herself to come back to the church, even studying for a diploma in theology."
Mrs Braybrooks' religious fervour was to the fore in the service, which included an array of hymns, Bible readings and a prayer linked to explorer Sir Francis Drake.
Granddaughter Georgina Ley, whose words were read to the funeral after she was unable to attend due to illness, told of her grandmother's temporal loves, which ranged from Lady Grey tea to cooking to just sitting quietly.
"Granny always had a very full life," she said.
"She was very good at sewing and embroidery, making everything from cushions and dresses, when we were little, to dolls and our library bags for school."
Father MacLeod-Miller, described as Mrs Braybrooks' salvation and friend by Ms Ley, ended the funeral by saying the bells of St Matthew's, "which were also cast in England", would "not be tolling out of sadness, but pealing out of joy".
He then joined Ms Ley in planting Winston Churchill daffodil bulbs in the church grounds at the relatively recent burial site of Mrs Braybrooks' cat Little Tree.
A photo portrait of the pet and a snapshot of Father MacLeod-Miller and Mrs Braybrooks had sat on the coffin throughout the funeral.