Valerie Griffiths was born in 1935 in Sydney, New South Wales. After leaving home at the age of sixteen, Valerie commenced nursing at a private hospital in Chatswood before commencing her general training at Sydney Hospital a year later. Married in 1958 and with two wonderful sons she later returned to nursing, eventually working in Aged Care education and administration. She and her husband completed their 30 years of sailing with a cruise to Far North Queensland on their retirement before moving to Coffs Harbour. Valerie at last had time to devote to her interest in family history and writing. Her involvement with Sydney Hospital remains with three books published for the Lucy Osburn-Nightingale Museum in order to maintain the history of the first hospital in Australia. Family history still remains a passion.