Alice received her education at Lauriston Girls' School and went on to attend the University of Melbourne.
Following in the footsteps of her grandfather, David Syme, Alice pursued a career in journalism and editing at The Age newspaper.
Driven by her desire to assist individuals throughout their entire lives, from infancy to old age, Syme then directed her efforts towards the elderly.
She joined the board of Greenvale Village for the Aged when it was established in 1954 and held the position of vice-president from 1961 to 1975.
Recognized for her astute and effective leadership, she firmly believed that the voluntary committees she served on embodied the most valuable aspects of humanity.