Burning to Learn is a heartfelt memoir tracing Barbara’s unexpected entry into teaching in 1960s Sydney – a journey sparked by academic failure and shaped by resilience, discovery, and the transformative power of education.

At 21, untrained and unsure, Barbara found herself teaching Catholic schoolgirls under the watchful eyes of the same stern nuns who once taught her. It was her students’ curiosity that reignited her love of music and gave her purpose. From the tough halls of Liverpool Girls’ High to the diverse classrooms of Cabramatta High beside a migrant hostel, Barbara learned to adapt – softening her strict style, finding humour and embracing her students’ love of pop alongside her struggle to revive her passion for classical music.

Her inspiring encounter with legendary music educator Richard Gill and her clash with a cheeky senior named Jon English became pivotal moments of growth. At Miller and then Busby High, Barbara came into her own – starting a choir accompanied by the school band and creating music programmes that lit up young lives.

Yet the journey wasn’t without mistakes. Learning to balance control with compassion, Barbara discovered that humility, connection and maintaining humour in the classroom were her greatest teaching tools.

Now, decades later, she reflects on those early years with warmth and gratitude. Burning to Learn is a moving tribute to teachers who learn just as much as they give – and the students who change them forever.