Elfriede Bednarik

Elfriede Schipfer was born on 11 March 1945 in Graz, Austria, to Kaethe and Franz Schipfer, just weeks before the end of World War II. Elfriede contracted typhoid fever almost immediately and almost died. Her mother thought it was a miracle that she survived. Elfriede had one brother. She grew up in Graz, the second-largest city in Austria, and attended school in Graz-Andritz. When she finished school she trained as a bookkeeper in a large wholesaling company, and she worked in this capacity for several years.

Elfriede Bednarik became an Australian citizen in 1976. She proved her adaptability by becoming an expert caver and rock art researcher. Elfriede and
Robert Bednarik shared a great love for the outdoors and for rock art. Elfriede learned basic archaeology from working with Robert Bednarik, reading, attend-
ing public lectures and participating in excavations.