Circus icon Bernice Perry dies after two year battle with ovarian cancer at Gold Coast University Hospital

After an adventurous life cheating death as one of Australia’s most iconic circus performers — Bernice Perry has lost a long fight with ovarian cancer at 79.

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AFTER an adventurous life cheating death as one of Australia’s most iconic circus performers — Bernice Perry has lost a long fight with ovarian cancer at 79.

“She was a tough young lady and a stunner — who is finally at peace,” Robert Perry said of his wife of nearly 60 years.

“She went through 39 chemotherapy treatments, most of them were five hours at a time.

“When she was diagnosed two years ago they gave her two months to live, but thanks to doctors at Gold Coast University Hospital she lived for two years.”

Mrs Perry passed away on November 12 at Hopewell Hospice with her husband by her side.

Circus icon Bernice and Robert Perry on their wedding day with an elephant as their bridesmaid. Picture: Supplied.

She was a former juggler and acrobat as part of the famous Perry Bros Circus and spent years with her husband travelling Australia entertaining crowds with stunts before retiring to the Gold Coast two years ago.

Mr Perry said tributes had come pouring in from circuses across the globe, where his wife was know for her ability to “light up any room she entered”.

“She was always such a popular person in the show and circus world, I’ve had people contact me from Africa and all over the world.”

“I’ve even had a message from the Tambo council — close to where my family owned a halfway hotel in the late 1800s.

“She was always just so kind and everyone loved her.”

The couple were married in South Australia and Mr Perry said the couple had an elephant as a bridesmaid and that his wife looked like a “Hollywood actor”.

Circus icon Bernice Perry in her early days. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Perry, also 79, said his wife was a seamstress before her circus career and loved cooking, but when they got married he shocked her with a confession.

“I said to her I don’t eat anything that swims, flies or has feathers, and she nearly fell over,” he said.

Despite never having any children of her own, Mr Perry said Bernice adored children and made a fuss of her 10 or so nieces and nephews.

He’s expecting fellow performers from Lennon Bros Circus to attend his wife’s service at Allambe Memorial Park on Wednesday.

“But her death is also a reminder for everyone about ovarian cancer. Her first indication was a tightness in her stomach, but by that time it was too far gone,” Mr Perry said.

Australian circus icon Bernice Perry as featured in Fanfare magazine in 2019. Picture: Supplied.

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