A Little Bit About Me...

I live with my family in Hillpark South Auckland, in one of the remaining urban forests in Auckland. I am a parent of four adult children one of whom, Travers, has Down syndrome. I have a varied background spanning education, politics, and disability. I have a master’s degree in education policy. I have served on the Manukau City Council for nine years and have spent 15 years as a Counties Manukau representative on the DHB.

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I am an honorary Arctic Warrior – these are soldiers from the British Army 249 Signal Squadron who were deployed in the Arctic Circle to observe and report on the Russians – they were also in Turkey doing the same thing. This group represents those who restored the Bulford Kiwi – tough, tough men! It is a wonderful honour to be acknowledged in this way!

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I am a writer, an author, a public speaker, and a disability advocate.

If I was to sum up my writing in a single statement I would say, "I strive to give the often unrepresented and ignored, a voice." I have charted the experiences of parents of disabled children in the New Zealand education system, documented the voices and experiences of New Zealand soldiers waiting to return to New Zealand after WW1 had finished, and have interviewed and written about significant education changes made by politicians, bureaucrats and change-makers during the 1980s. “What I’ve learned is that these stories are so important to shaping us as a country – some stories are quirky, some are hair raising – but they are our stories and we need to tell them proudly.” 

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Last year I wrote a children’s book about Elvie the Sheep – a true story about a sheep that lived in my aunt’s back yard in Kilbirnie Wellington. It is a fun book – and again it has had a number of interesting spin offs – families relating stories about pet days in the country. 

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I have recently finished a true Anzac children’s story, Violet's Scarf – due to be published and released just before Anzac Day 2023. Again, a true story which sends shivers down my spine every time I tell it.

I also write for The Listener and like to use any spare time I find to make sure that voices from the South Auckland community are heard on important issues.