She was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1939 to 1950, winning the seat of Balmain after the death of her husband John Quirk.

She was the second child born to Emma Margretta (née White) and Julius Franz Frederick Deal.

[1] She was elected to his seat in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly at the 1939 Balmain state by-election, defeating two "independent Labor" candidates.

[3] Her preselection was carried out by the Lang Labor faction of the ALP, and she reportedly defeated eight other candidates including former state attorney-general Joe Lamaro.

[5] She joined Lang's breakaway Australian Labor Party (Non-Communist) in 1940, which rejoined the official ALP the following year.