About the Author
The author was born in country New South Wales, Australia, and attended boarding school from the age of nine. By the time she was ten, she had written a play, auditioned neighbourhood children, and produced her first concert to raise funds for the Abbotsleigh Junior School Library. The Trust Fund she helped establish operated for decades—a testament to her early entrepreneurial spirit.
Throughout her life, she has been a dynamic force in business development, fundraising, the arts, and now writing. In the 1980s, she was a popular social journalist for the Daily Liberal’s "Chit Chat" page, published by Macquarie Publications. She also became a freelance writer, contributing articles on social and environmental issues.
In the mid-1980s, she volunteered as a newsreader at the Chatswood Community Radio Station. She relished the process of researching, reporting, and delivering news live on-air. Known for her thoughtful and optimistic perspective, she often chose to highlight uplifting stories—earning praise from the local community for her logic and poise.
Her community engagement extended to volunteer work with “Dial-a-Mum,” where she received training to support callers in emotional crises. She recalls this role as deeply challenging, but also profoundly meaningful.
In the mid-1990s, she founded her own marketing and business development company, GA Marketing 4U. Her first client—a tech firm—was dismissed for not following her rebranding advice. Her second, a medico-legal firm, thrived under her strategy, becoming a major success within a year. After three years, she amicably ended her contract, feeling her mission was complete.
In the early 2000s, she began writing personal essays but did not initially pursue publication. She remarried—this time to an artist—and took on the role of Art Director and Manager of his work. As a volunteer with the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW), she eventually became a Patron and Foundation Member.
Her interests include golf, bridge, swimming, occasional jogging, and the occasional glass of champagne. She became an active member of St Mark’s Anglican Church, serving as a choir member, welcomer, Bible reader, and prayer leader. She also joined small connect groups, finding joy and fellowship in her faith community.
She travelled extensively—particularly to the United States, England, and Switzerland—building meaningful international relationships. From 2012 to 2019, she painted in her Magnolia Art Studio in the U.S., drawing inspiration from global art auctions and developing a creative philosophy rooted in divine guidance. “The brilliant art masters of the world are in the eye of the beholder,” she says. She now adds, “As a published author, my success is in the eye of the reader.”
During her time in the U.S., she contributed to a Christian newsletter, reporting on community, environmental, and social issues—especially those empowering women. She was a valued volunteer for organizations including MSO, MMA, and St Andrew’s Cathedral in Jackson, Mississippi, and continues to maintain ties with the U.S. community. In 2017, she was awarded a Doctorate—an honour she shares with the late Dr. Billy Graham.
She has raised funds for numerous Australian charities, including Save the Children, the Red Cross, and the Asthma Foundation. In 2020, her short story Church on a Death Ship was published four times, including in Eternity News magazine. Inspired by readers' feedback, she expanded the story into a memoir, which was published in 2021—fulfilling a lifelong dream. The book has drawn attention for its survival themes, spiritual depth, and signature humour. Readers often say the book feels like a personal conversation with the author and leaves them wanting more.
Since then, she has published five more books in just three years. These include:
• An Entangled Life – A novel based on a true story.
• My Prayer Book – A collection of prayers paired with beautiful photography.
• The Power of Prayer – Real-life stories of miracles and faith through an Anglican lens.
• Conversations on Eternity and Art – A thought-provoking exploration of science, spirituality, and emotional expressionism through her own art.
• Love and Wonder – Her most recent novel, published in 2023, featuring her own photography on the cover.
Her six books are available at the Betty Archdale Senior School Library at Abbotsleigh, where the school honoured its Old Girl authors as part of its 140th anniversary celebrations in 2025. Her works are also held by the National Library of Australia and the State Library of New South Wales.
She believes that faith, hope and love are essential to a meaningful life. Her personal motto? “Laugh yourself smarter quicker!” She sees humour as a powerful tool for rising to life’s challenges. Through her writing, she seeks to empower women by addressing disappointment and adversity with courage, compassion, and spiritual depth.
A lifelong contributor to both the arts and her church community, she now extends her support to Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs—particularly the elderly and isolated—through regular phone outreach, finding mutual joy in these meaningful connections.
She lives in Sydney and treasures the deep friendships that surround her. She is especially proud of her four daughters and seven grandchildren, who are scattered across the globe.
An avid traveller, she continues to explore the world and believes the polar regions—the Arctic and Antarctic—are among the most inspiring places to discover.
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