Woman of tender mercies
THE late bishop Michael Putney once revealed that his primary school teacher at Saint Joseph’s on The Strand, Sister Gretta, was the first great love of his life.
He used to carry her books and one day dropped them on the dusty ground. He froze, fully expecting a reprimand for his carelessness but none came, and he recalled that he had received his first and lasting experience of mercy at the hands of this beautiful and gracious lady.
Gretta Yvonne McCourt was the third of the six children, to Charles Leo and Gertrude Mary McCourt ( nee Curran). Gretta was, and always remained, a country girl at heart.
She loved the land, was proud of her history and grew up cherishing and living the very best of the values synonymous with our pioneering families.
As a young woman Gretta enjoyed a full social life. She excelled in clerical work and in 1948 took up a position as a clerk in the Mulgrave Shire Council. On her way home to South Australia at Christmas time 1949 she stopped in Townsville and called on the Sisters of Mercy at The Strand. She had felt called to follow in the footsteps of her sister Joan, who had entered the Mercies at Mt. Gambier. She was so impressed by the welcome she Pimlico to replace the old one in Stagpole St, West End. She laid the foundations for the thriving modern hospital the Mater now is before handing over the reins to Sr. Paul Mary in 1973. She continued at the hospital as archivist and keeper of the history until her retirement in 2004.
While Gretta’s life was focused on nursing, she had many other interests including being a member of the Townsville orchestra, and also played her violin at Congregational liturgies and gatherings. She was a member of the local writers club and wrote pieces which often recalled her life growing up.
Gretta was a people person. If you were ill or experiencing difficulty you could rely on the care and compassion of Gretta. She noticed things and you could always be assured of her thoughtful and kind response. Her love of her home, her family and Sisters remained to the last.
A beautiful caring, gracious woman and nurse to the end, Sister Gretta passed away on April 10 aged 92.