Attended Mrs Ross's girls school, which was opposite the family home in Walsh Street, Ormond. This later became Kilvington Baptist Girls Grammar School and Brenda stayed on until 5th form. She joined the National Bank of Australia as a ledger machine operator and went on the Victorian relieving staff. She was posted to various branches, including country branches such as Baccus Marsh and Wangaratta.

She and her first husband bought a small, old cottage on a steep hill in Belgrave. They enlarged it over a number of years with much help from her father.

After the break-up of her marriage she worked for Myers, the major department store chain in Victoria, doing clerical work. She was laid off when the Victorian economy went through a bad patch ca 1991 She then spent ten years looking after elderly relatives: her Aunty Joyce, her husband Bruce’s mother and aunt, then her father. Sadly Bruce became very sick and, after 18 months, he died only 9 months afther his mother.