Barbara is an intriguing combination of pastor, social justice campaigner and researcher and her memoir is fascinating because of it. Passionate about people being free from the chains of oppression, her sociological training means she has a focus on changing structures in society that hold people groups back. As a pastor and psychologist, she has helped many people break free of mindsets that have prevented them reaching their full potential.

From her background in a poor working class white family in urban Australia, Barbara, with Aboriginal husband Norman, who is also a pastor, travel the world. They have a calling to heal groups from the wounds of history through the Centre for International Reconciliation and Peace they co-founded in 1998. This work has taken them to Israel, Jordan, Turkey, England, Zimbabwe, Canada, USA, PNG, Vanuatu and many other places.

Barbara has worked at the coalface of Aboriginal affairs in Australia from her involvement in the Aboriginal Tent Embassy demonstrations in Canberra in 1972 to helping the Mapoon people move back to their land in 1974, to co-founding the North Queensland Land Council with former husband Mick Miller in 1977 to being CEO of the Aboriginal Co-ordinating Council (ACC) in the 1990’s and much more. The ACC was the only statutory advisory body to the Queensland government on Aboriginal affairs at the time and represented local government Aboriginal councils who had a land base.

From someone who grew up avoiding conflict in her family of origin because of different beliefs, she seems to have put herself in the way of it confronting government policies which harmed Aboriginal people. Also she has become a professional mediator who helps others face and resolve their conflicts at work and at home. She has found her voice with the publication of her fourth solo book.