About the Author

Sara Powter

Sara has always been fascinated by the world around her. Born Sara Hunter in 1959, she spent much of her early life travelling. Attending school via correspondence when travelling, Sara flitted up and down Australia's east coast with her parents, ultimately leading her to a job as an Entomological, Taxonomic Assistant for the Department of Agriculture.

Sara's parents Norman & Sheila Hunter, were collectors of rare natural & cultural artefacts from across the Australia-Pacific region and amassed a collection of significant volume over their lifetimes. Curious artefacts included dinosaur fossils, wartime memorabilia, and exceptionally rare butterfly and insect specimens. Many of these items now feature prominently in museums across Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific islands, thanks to Sara's identification, preservation, and generosity in donating them.

Sara's interest in Australia's natural and cultural history led her to her significant involvement in the Bring Back Old Sydney Town movement, which is still under negotiation with the new owners, and this re-ignited a passion for colonial-era storytelling and its importance to Australian folklore traditions.

Sara started writing as a way to fill her time during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns and has now amassed a literary stockpile of nearly two million words. Her clear passion for Australian colonial-era storytelling, as well as her remarkable skill in genealogical research, led to the passion project, The Lockleys of Parramatta series.

Inspired by her own family's experiences in coming to Australia as convicts and settlers, The Lockleys of Parramatta series was born.

Sara also is a pearl knotter, just to fill in any spare time.

1963

In 1963 I was taken on out first trip, "Up the Darling River" and thence to Airlie Beach in Qld. ( I'm up the tree in the branch). My Dad, Norman Hunter was an adventurer adn collectore of Natural History. My life was an adventure every day.

1968

When I was eight, my mother and I started doing our family history. I discovered the joys of research and we found four convicts in our Family Tree. John Ellison, Sarah Watkins, Joseph Huff and Amelia Harlow. All were based in Parramatta and then later Emu Plains too. I became obsessed.

2002

In 2002 my best friend and mother died. She never got to see her three amazing Australian Colonial novels in print. In 1999 she was co-Winner of Senior citizen of the Year for NSW. She inspired me. She broke so many stero-types that she was a fabulous example of how to persevere in the face of adversity.

Retirement Dreams

2020 was the year of Retirement. Sadly it was also the year of Covid so rather than head back to Airlie Beach, as the state borders were closed, I sat and wrote.

My passion for the struggles of the colonial convicts broke loose and the words flowed. I am in awe at what my ancestors had to cope with. They were torn from the arms of their loved ones; often for petty crimes. They were never to return home. The lives they made for their families here in Australia were far better than what they left behind, that was the cold squalor and slums of England. with them they also brought their strong Fatih in our Lord God. They have passed this wonderful legacy on to many members of the family.

After marrying Steve in 1989 we were transferred to our first Parish, Murrurundi in country NSW. We spent 31 years in various ministries, but mostly in Parishes in the Anglican Diocese in Newcastle.

Aussie - through and thorugh!

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