at Dapto Combined Probus Club: Thursday 3rd September 2026

It seems my intuition was right: the arrival of my debut historical novel Louisa has sparked fresh attention for my memoir I Belong to No One.

Last week I was invited to chat with a book club group because I Belong to No One had been nominated as their book of the month. That was an intimate and convivial setting, allowing for discussion and dissection. Quite the novel experience, when it is my own work under the microscope. Feedback included “it is best book yet”. Wow!

This week I am presenting to members and guests of DAPTO COMBINED PROBUS. As their website explains, “Membership is open to men and women who are retired or semi-retired and who wish to develop social contact, and enjoy having friendship, fellowship and fun with other residents of Dapto and its surrounding area … Probus Clubs are non-political and non-sectarian and as Probus is not a Service Club, so it does not engage in Fund raising or Community Sponsorship.”

I’ve just refreshed my PowerPoint presentation, and will concentrate on the four main threads running through the book — and through my life:

• My mother’s mental illness, which was not her fault, but it shaped my whole childhood.
• Australia’s Forced Adoption Era: In her national apology on 21st March 2013, then Prime Minister Julia Gillard referred to this as “a dark period of our nation’s history” and vowed to “redress the shameful mistakes of the past”. You can read the full transcript of the apology here. Or, watch Julia Gillard’s delivery here.
• Domestic violence: This is the part of the story people often find hardest to hear. I will refer to it, but not delve deeply due to time constraints.
• However! The book ends not in grief, but in hope, and so the overwhelming message is, Overcoming a difficult start.

Interested? Hope you can join me at 11am on Thursday 3rd Sept in The Sinclair Room at Dapto Leagues Club, Railway Street Dapto.

Recently, I’ve added an Event Page to my website: You can also find the above details here.

Signed copies of my books will be available, cash or card:

Louisa: $33

Louisa + Shifting Sands: $40

I Belong to No One: $36