She gained her BA at Bedford College, University of London,[2] then returned to the family home "Wachenappee" in Stirling, near the Mount Lofty Railway station[3] (later named "Olivet House").
In 1925, she was employed at Woodlands Girls Grammar School in Glenelg, South Australia, where she found a friend in second mistress Mabel Hardy, with whom she shared ideas about teaching.
[5] Fired with enthusiasm, Patience purchased "Arthur's Seat" a large bungalow on 90 acres (36 ha) near the summit of Mount Lofty and overlooking the Adelaide Plains.
They settled in a house on Charlick Road, some 3 km south-west of the School, and henceforth she had little to do with teaching or day-to-day decisions, though she retained the title and responsibilities of managing director.
She joined the Labor Party and stood for the seat of Burnside at the 1946 by-election[9] and for the Legislative Council (the first woman contender) in the 1953 election, Central No.2 but was unsuccessful on both occasions.