Before becoming a writer, Di was a primary school teacher at public schools in Padstow Park, Canterbury, Belmore South, Kensington, Holsworthy, and later at Prestons, Bradbury and Macquarie Fields. During her early teaching years, Di married and had two children, Claire and Kathleen (who died at the age of two). Claire is now married and lives in Ottawa, Canada, where she is a publicist and freelance journalist. On being an author, Di says: "I never thought about being an author until I was in my thirties and was seconded from my teaching job to work as an editorial assistant on the NSW Department of Education School Magazine which went to every public school in the state. The editor (and children's writer), Lilith Norman, was always making me re-write my stories, so although she really bugged me by never praising my stories, she challenged me to become a better writer." "When I moved a few months later to The Diggings, Dr George Mountain, Tanja via Bega (12 kms from the closest neighbour), I was bored. Writing a book helped filled in lonely hours. When I had my first book, Terri, accepted for publication, it gave me confidence to write a second, then a third... that was 85 books ago! "My most popular books have been the Grandma Cadbury and the Bushranger series, but The Last Refuge, my novel for 10-14 year olds, is probably my most important. The story is narrated by a young girl who witnesses, and is a victim of, domestic violence. I was abused as a child, and am pleased that through this book, I have been able to talk to the media, educators and other people in the field of child welfare about what I see as a deficiency of rights for children in our country. Since the book was published, I have received numerous letters from young readers who have responded sensitively to its message. The book has been translated into Italian and Danish, and in 1997 was commended in the Australian Family Therapy Awards." Di has written a novel based on Kathleen's death (The Shape) and non-fiction books on children’s lives, including Famous and Fabulous Kids, Champion (Australian) Children and Resourceful Children. In jobs relating to literature, Di has co-edited the children’s magazine, Puffinalia (Penguin Books) with Doug MacLeod, worked on the editorial team of the NSW Department of School Education state-wide School Magazine, has been employed as writer-in-resident and tutor at numerous institutions, toured with the Children’s Book Council of Australia (NSW branch) and the National Book Council and managed/edited a weekly provincial newspaper. Other jobs Di
has worked at include youth worker in a home for delinquent girls,
factory shift worker, bookseller, university lecturer, voluntary
welfare counsellor, advertising sales’ representative, journalist,
cable TV and community radio presenter, dishwasher, children's arts
and crafts' organiser, and nurses’ assistant. At the moment
Di works part-time at Wollongong University on a research project
into mental illness.
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