B.A.(History and English) University of Canterbury 1967. Diploma of Teaching, Christchurch Teachers' Training College, 1967. Certificate of Teaching, 1968. Speech & Drama Exams to Higher Local, Trinity College 1965. Maori Language, Correspondence School 1994-5.

Member: NZ Storytellers Guild, Canterbury Tellers, New Zealand Genealogical Society

Toured US as a storyteller 2000 and 2002

FEATURED TELLER  IN AMERICA

Kentucky Corn Island Storytelling Festival, Featured Teller

Wisconsin Riverbend Festival, Guest Teller  

Performances and Workshops in Libraries and Museums

in Sheboygan, Appleton, Browns Bay, Seymour, Racine, Neenah, Delaven. 

Performances in schools - Milwaukee University School, Crystal Lake School (Chicago)

Performed in Open Mike sessions at Jonesborough, (American National Storytelling Festival)

"Living History" Museums visited include Williamsburg, Jamestown and a most interesting historical reconstruction of the ''Great Fire" near Chicago. 

RESEARCH and COMMISSIONS

 "10 Acres in Three Mile Bush" created and performed for Carterton, 2007

Research on "Randolph" for "The Press" "First Four Ships" series 2006

"Sarah Bouton Masters" created and performed for Masterton 2004

"Lizzie of Taita" created and performed for Christ Church Taita 2000

FEATURED IN NEW ZEALAND

Windows on the Past - a series of four one person shows, cabaret-style 2008

The Immigrants - Lyttelton Times Cafe 2007-8

Glistening Waters International Storytelling Festival, Masterton, NZ. Featured Teller

Taita Old Church sesqui-centenial

Masterton sesqui-centennial

Carterton sesqui-centennial

Wairarapa Art and History Museum

 Ferrymead Historical Park Carnival,

Wairarapa Reading Festival,

NZ Speech and Drama Teachers Conference,

Storyspinner Seminar (Timaru)

Corn Island Storytelling Festival Kentucky. U.S.A.

U.S. Library Adult Education programmes

N.Z Genealogical Society Conference

International Masonic Conference.

Also Tourist groups, Schools, Museums, Canterbury College of Education, Libraries, Heritage Week, N.Z. Festivals

Life experience includes: ten years as a history and English teacher in NZ high schools, experience as producer of school plays and concerts, two years spent travelling in Europe and Asia, twenty-five years as a mother to three talented children who are among my best teachers, a lifetime of reading history and all kinds of literature, twenty years of research into Canterbury history and genealogy, a lifetime of exploration in New Zealand's unique landscape, ten years as a professional storyteller including two tours in the United States.

Publications: Portrait of the Pioneers.2002 CD The Immigrants 1999