Connie grew up in the dormitories of Forrest River Mission at the remote Oombulgurri community north of Wyndham in Western Australia. She worked as a teacher's aid in the little mission school before becoming an Anglican Church Army Sister and welfare worker. Her stories recall an era of matrons and missionaries, strict regulations and clothes made out of flour bags. Jill Finnane helped and encouraged Connie to tell her story. The resulting book, When You Grow Up, is no longer in print.