Vale Bernice Moorhouse 1944 – 2026
Honouring a trailblazer for disability employment in WA
Article by Sonia Nolan, Good Sammy Enterprises.
Bernice Moorhouse, first Good Sammy employee and a significant catalyst for disability employment and empowerment in Western Australia, passed away peacefully at home on 3 January 2026, aged 81.
Bernice leaves a mighty legacy which underpins the history and mission of well-loved Western Australian charity, Good Sammy.
In 1958, Reverand Ralph Sutton of the Wesley Mission, fresh from a visit abroad seeing firsthand the impact of disability employment at Goodwill Industries, wanted to create something similar in Western Australia.
Serendipity stepped in and Bernice’s mother, Naomi Moorhouse, approached Rev Sutton seeking a job for her 16-year-old daughter Bernice who was deaf, and completing her studies at the Mosman Park Deaf School, where she mastered lip reading (before Auslan and sign language were taught).
Disability in the 1950s carried a strong social stigma which often excluded people with disability from employment and community belonging. Rev Sutton wanted to change this, and Bernice was the person to help make this happen.
Bernice was a talented seamstress and hard worker who, with her mother’s encouragement, didn’t let her disability quell her ambitions to work and live life to the fullest.
“Bernice was the pivotal inspiration for Dad’s dream of equality and fair work for all workers,” according to Megan Newman (daughter of Rev Ralph Sutton).
Rev Sutton appealed to his church congregation for old clothing which could be repaired and sold, providing skilled work and an income for Bernice.
Bernice became Good Samaritan Industries’ (later to become Good Sammy Enterprises) first employee and Rev Sutton’s dream of equality in employment for people with disability began – and continues today.
In this most humble beginning, Good Sammy’s op shops became indelibly imprinted in the fabric of Western Australia.
Bernice was born in March 1944, one of eight children and the daughter of a builder and teacher who valued education, community and helping others.
“Mum and Dad were always helping people,” recalls Olive Harper, older sister of Bernice.
These values of helping others ran through the Moorhouse family with Bernice’s sisters Grace running an orphanage in Chad, and Ruth working in Senegal. With a love of travel, these African countries became solo holiday destinations for Bernice who visited her sisters, as well as venturing to Pakistan, Paris and then all over the world on her much-loved cruises.
“Nothing held her back. She lived life to the full,” Olive said. “She played basketball with a church team, drove her own car, and was actively involved with the Deaf Society and the Deaf Church. Bernice was a brilliant seamstress, and she would make wedding dresses. and also sew tops for students at Wesley.”
Aside from her holiday adventures, Bernice was a committed employee, never missing a day of work during her 51 years at Good Sammy.
In her retirement speech in 2012, Bernice recalled the many opportunities she enjoyed at Good Sammy.
“I have done many different things and have moved to different places. From Perth to Osborne Park to Welshpool and finally to this wonderful place here at Canning Vale. I have met many, many people and made many friends over my many years with GSI (Good Samaritan Industries),” she said.
As Good Sammy grew over the decades. to what is now a thriving social enterprise with 31 retail stores throughout Western Australia and diverse training and employment pathways for people with disability, Bernice revelled in the opportunities and impact being made – giving her trademark ‘thumbs up’ to what she saw.
Even after retirement, Bernice attended every Good Sammy event possible and Olive said she would say “Getting bigger. More people working. All different disabilities. Beautiful. (Thumbs up!)”
“Bern got on with everyone and wanted to be friends. She was full of smiles and a cheeky sense of humour.”
This warmth and humour are long remembered by her Good Sammy colleagues who continue to admire Bernice for “helping us all have a job”. Upon hearing of her passing many commented that she was “an extraordinary person who made a lasting impact on Good Sammy and the lives of everyone she met” and “a great person and legend of Good Sammy and leaves a great place we should all be proud of”.
Good Sammy Chief Executive Officer Kane Blackman said his thoughts were with Bernice’s family at this time and that her legacy paved the way for thousands of other people with disability to be trained and employed. A training room at Good Sammy’s Canning Vale head office was named in honour of Bernice Moorhouse in the 1990s recognising and celebrating her many achievements.
“Her multi-decade contribution to Good Sammy was immense. We honour her legacy by continuing to grow the number, breadth and quality of employment opportunities for people with disability in this country,” Kane said.
Good Sammy Enterprises Board Chair Fiona Payne said Bernice was much loved and respected.
“Good Sammy will continue to honour the legacy of this talented, committed, trailblazing woman in transforming society through training and jobs for people with disability,” Fiona said.
A memorial service to honour the life of Bernice Moorhouse will be held at Yokine Baptist Church on Monday 19 January at 10.30am.
