Charles Brammall
Lorraine Daphne Bayly, born 1937 in Narrandera, NSW, is best known as Grace Sullivan in the classic Aussie drama series The Sullivans (76–79) and as Jennifer Carson in Carson’s Law.
Lorraine died last week at 89 in a care home in Sydney.
The actor had several links to Christian organisations and themes throughout her life:
• As Grace Sullivan, she portrayed a devout, traditional mother whose trust in Jesus was central to her character’s moral compass during WWII…
• A sound recording interview regarding her feelings about this role, her life, and her career, is catalogued at the National Library of Australia.
• Interestingly, it is cross-referenced with records from the (now progressive but then laragely Conservative Evangelical) Methodist Church of Australasia. This suggests a potential early life connection with that denomination.
Tributes following her death include Christian language, with well-wishers saying “May God bless and keep her” (a Roman Catholic sentiment). Also, that she is now “reunited in heaven with colleagues.” Lorraine has spoken about a “rule for living” that involves trying something new every decade— like learning the saxophone or a new language—to maintain happiness.
With regard to Lorraine’s personal faith, she has historically kept her private beliefs separate from her public persona. The Kiddle encyclopedia notes that Bayly’s very first public performances were as a 3-year-old, playing the tambourine with the Salvation Army, a denomination known for its musical ministry.
Her career overlapped with faith, and for details on how she portrayed the devout Catholic matriarch, the Sullivans Wikipedia page describes her character’s (Grace Sullivan’s) deep faith and how it drove the show’s moral narratives. Following her death, major Australian news outlets like the ABC and SMH have published retrospectives. Some community tributes, such as those found on Bernie Finn’s public memorial post, reflect the Christian sentiments shared by her fans and peers
Friend and broadcaster Craig Bennett said: “Sad to say we’ve lost another showbiz legend, a bona fide star of stage and screen, a triple Logie winning TV treasure, and beautiful friend to many.”hd wrote on Facebook: “Her much-loved nephew Brad and wife Janelle called with the news, and asked me, as a close friend, to make the announcement on behalf of the family. Lorraine had enjoyed a stellar 62-year career on stage and screen, until her retirement 10 years ago…
‘She told me [that] as a kid growing up… she’d sing and dance around draped in the curtains.’ Lorraine is also known for her role as Faye Hudson in Neighbours.
She won Silver Logies in 78, 79 and 83 as Most Popular Actress in The Sullivans and Carson’s Law. Lorraine retired 10 years ago and battled serious health conditions during this time.
Bennet said, “After years of gruelling health issues, she’s now free and off onto her next wild adventure. Big block of chocolate in hand!… LB was a self-confessed chocoholic!’ The actress opened up in 2021 about suffering from several health issues over the course of two years. She was diagnosed with pneumonia in 2018, which led to a partially collapsed lung.
After recovering, she then discovered she had breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy. Her cancer treatment complete, she spent a few months isolating at her home during Covid: “I’ve spent the past 2 & 1/2 years going from one illness to another,” Lorraine said at the time. She also starred in the play ‘Rabbit Hole’ in Canberra in 2007:
‘I don’t complain (about my illness) because for the first 80-odd years of my life I got through without any serious illness at all. You look at the little kids on television who are fighting cancer and all sorts of problems… They’re the ones my heart breaks for.” Before she was a household name, Lorraine started her career training at Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre in the 50s.
She played piano on radio, and made her TV debut on The Bobby Limb Show in 62.
In 66 she became an original presenter on Play School…and then came an avalanche of stage and screen roles. She worked with Kirk Douglas in The Man From Snowy River and Edward Woodward on stage.
A little-known fact is that she hosted her own morning TV show, “Clean As You Slim with Lorraine!”
Lorraine left this life just a month after her 89th birthday. She loved spending time with her children, Brad and Janelle and their kids, Laura and Patrick, on their macadamia farm at Maclean Ridge in NSW’s Northern Rivers. Every decade, she would learn something new, from playing tennis to learning a musical instrument to ballroom dancing.
Vale to a most kind, remarkable and beautiful lady, awarded an Order of Australia (AM) for her contribution to the performing arts.
Please give thanks to God with me for Lorraine:
Dear Heavenly LORD,
Thank You for Lorraine’s life and strengths – the laughter she sparked, lightness she carried; and warmth, mischief and joy she brought into rooms and onto stages. Praise You for her lovely personality, and the dancing, acting and singing gifts You so generously gave her. Every good and perfect gift comes from You, and in her talent we glimpse Your creativity and delight. We praise You for her life.
In Jesus’ creative Name,
Amen.
Just and merciful Lord Jesus,
Thank You for the Hope in grace You offer us through the LORD Christ. You are gentle and lowly in heart, and rich in mercy and justice. Praise You for Lorraine’s connection to Methodism, for every hymn sung, devout role played, and brush with the story of grace. If through those threads she was drawn to surrender to You- trusting not in performance but in Your finished work– we bless You for such mercy. You know those who are Yours. May she have found rest in Your saving arms.
Praise Your Name, adoptive Father,
Amen.
Gracious LORD of hosts, we beg You that Lorraine’s family would surrender to You and thus be comforted. In the quiet rule of life by which Lorraine sought new things, please allow one of the truest and deepest ones to be this- surrender to Jesus Christ as Monarch and Rescuer. If so, thank You for eternal hope. And now, please surround her family with Your comfort, hold them in their grief, and let them feel Your nearness- Your peace, and the steady promise of resurrection life.
Through Christ, our risen, reigning, eternal King.
Amen