She was educated at the local schools and in 1915 she enrolled at the Adelaide Kindergarten Training College where she was taught the latest ideas based on the work of Montessori.

She was there until 1924[2] when she became the first paid general secretary of the South Australian Kindergarten Union[1] where she worked with Ethel McDonnell and Lucy Morice.

[1] In 1937 she was awarded the Catherine Helen Spence Memorial Scholarship to enable her to further her study into parent education and child welfare.

In 1939 she travelled to Britain and France to attend lectures on early childhood and to visit nursery schools and kindergartens.

The Rangitane spotted German raiders at 3:40 in the morning and they sent out a radio message to announce they had found suspicious ships.

For 19 minutes the Rangitane engaged its top speed and during this time the German fire killed three engine staff, two stewardesses and five passengers.