Elaine Lee ( 23 December 1939 -- 17 September 2014 ) was a South African-born Australian-based theatre and television actress and entertainer best known for her role of Vera Collins in the 1970s television soap opera `` Number 96 '' .
Elaine Lee ( 23 December 1939 -- 19 September 2014 ) was a South African-Australian actress . She was best known for her role as Vera Collins in the 1970s television soap opera `` Number 96 '' .