Inspirational Conference Speaker
BHP Billiton, Melbourne
GENCA Conference: Australian Gastroenterology Week 2008
Kumon Institute of Education, Australia
NSW Operating Theatre Association
ACCCN: ICE Conference 2008
Star City Ballroom, Sydney
Wimmera Uniting Care Conference, Horsham

"That was a fantastic presentation," Jane Waldron. (President, NSW OTA)

 "All who were in attendance at your presentation enjoyed every second of it." (NSW OTA)
 
The Australian College of Critical Care's National ICE conference 2008 was opened by
storyteller JB Rowley who enlightened us with tales of our own heroes from the past
and present that have contributed to nursing being what it is today. From Florence Nightingale
& Vivian Bullwinkle to Toni Hoffman, we were regaled with tales to inspire us and remind us
to be proud of whom we are and that what we do is of great importance to those whom
are placed in our care. JB Rowley also had some interesting pearls of wisdom in the form
of stories to get us all thinking.
(Michelle Wight, ACCCN.)

 

"I have had the pleasure of seeing JB present at business conferences, seminars and dinners.

She is an inspirational speaker and a captivating storyteller. We will be having her back."
(Tim Hewitson, Kumon Institute of Education)

"I have  heard June enthral gown ups with her scary stories and her business seminars are
inspirational! She simply must be heard to be believed."
(K. Wee, Kew Kumon Study Centre, Victoria)

 Author

My early success with writing included having short stories published in New Idea (a national Australian magazine) and other journals but life got in the way of any writing aspirations.

I married an Englishman (Dennis Barnes) at an early age and enjoyed a ten year journey as his wife after which we went our separate ways. Interestingly, before migrating to Australia, the Barnes family lived near the great grand daughters of Charles Dickens, one of my literary mentors, in Reading, Berkshire.  When I was around six years old one of my aunts in Albury sent me a copy of Dickens' Great Expectations. She knew I loved books but she kept getting our ages (there were seven of us) mixed up and she thought I was older than six. It didn't matter because I devoured any book I got my hands on and Great Expectations was thrilling for me. I remember being scared of the convict but apart from that I loved reading  the book. That was how a skinny little bush kid, isolated by distance and poverty, was introduced to Charles Dickens.I managed very little writing during this time although I attended many writing workshops and courses. I published some articles and started to write several books and I edited the national storytelling magazine swag of yarns for several years. It wasn't until 1995 when my mother died that I found a story that not only compelled me to start to write but also motivated me to take it to the finished and published stage.

To see my mother's story (Whisper My Secret) in print gave me an overwhelming feeling of joy. This feeling accelerated and my confidence swelled  when many who read the book swamped me with praise and positive feedback. Wow! Their reactions were way above my expectations.

I enjoy being an author so much that I am now  planning the sequel to Whisper My Secret. (JB offers author talks to schools, businesses and other organisations. Email JB for more information.)