The story behind Daughter of Fire: why I started and what I stand for
I’m proud to call Northern New South Wales home, Bundjalung land to be exact, right here in Lismore. If you know the area, you might chuckle that while Byron Bay gets all the limelight with its sunshine and surf, I’m tucked away in the wild and wonderful hinterland where the magic is a bit earthier and, well, wetter.
In 2022, my life was turned completely upside down. When the Lismore floods tore through my home, I truly thought I might not make it out. My partner (now husband), our two cats, and I were eventually pulled to safety - not by emergency crews, who were overwhelmed with cries for help and couldn’t reach our side of town through the treacherous waters, but by my Dad, who came for us in his own boat.
For two years after, I lived in the stripped shell of what was left. My home had been gutted - a camp kitchen to cook on, a basic shower and toilet downstairs, mould creeping back no matter how often I cleaned, and no insulation or proper flooring to cover the gaps. Winters were freezing, and every day was a reminder that this was no longer a home but a hollowed-out frame. Bit by bit, we managed to rebuild a kitchen and bathroom upstairs, piecing some comfort back together.
Eventually, I fought for and accepted a government buyback and moved to a new house perched on a hill - a place with space to breathe and rise again.
But life had more challenges in store. Just a week after moving in, I underwent my second endometriosis surgery - another reminder of how much my health shaped and tested me. Then, a month later, my Nan passed away after a drawn-out illness. She was like a mother to me, nurturing and deeply loving, and losing her was a grief so deep it shook my very core.
Throughout all this, I was working full-time for the government. The daily demands wore me down and I found myself burning out. The magic in life felt distant, replaced by exhaustion and disconnection.
The floods, the grief, the surgeries, the burnout - all of it intertwined, teaching me painfully and profoundly just how vital self-care and women’s health really are.
These personal challenges only sharpened my awareness of the bigger picture. I have long been passionate about politics and policy, especially feminism, domestic violence awareness and mental health, with a particular interest in trauma informed approaches. In a world that can feel cold and overwhelming, basic empathy often feels missing. I’m tired of the boys’ club, the attacks on women’s rights and the ways so many people are left unheard.
My turning point came in July 2025 at a women’s retreat, where a healing program there helped me face the grief and emotions I’d been avoiding. It was a reminder that life is meant to be lived, not just endured. I realised I needed to ignite my soul’s fire instead of mindlessly scrolling through days.
Daughter of Fire was born from this fire, from the ashes of hardship and the fierce desire to rise, wild and unapologetic. It’s a brand that honours slow living, emotional honesty and the power of nurturing yourself.
This is my invitation to you: slow down, rise up and nurture your wildness with me.
