I'm one of six children and sit somewhere in the middle. I was born in the small coastal town of Coffs Harbour. Well, it was small back in those days. I lived in Sawtell, near Coffs Harbour for my first two years. Unfortunately, I have very few memories of those early years. We moved down to Newcastle, and while life could be challenging at times, we were loved, and Dad would do what he could to make us laugh and feel special. Friday nights were picnic nights on the loungeroom floor with fish and chips, lollies and cordial. Dad would race us around the block, but he always seemed to win. It took us a while to work out, and he'd call out to go, then go back into the house and sit on the back step, waiting for us kids to return.

I was the rebel of the family growing up. If Mum mostly said don't, I did. If I was told to be home by six o'clock, I walked in at five past six just to make a point. I hated school, and as I could, I left. I worked as a seamstress for a while before starting work as a shop assistant. From there, I worked as a barmaid for a while until I realised getting hit on by old men was not something I wanted that much in my life.