In 1950, the Crooks family boarded the P&O Liner Strathaird, bound for Australia. So begins the heartwarming and uplifting story of Denise's early years.

Her father takes on a cray fishing business and moves the family to the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, then to a tent on a sandy beach in the South Passage, off the Western Australian coast. Denise demonstrates resilience and determination during difficult times, surrounded by lots of love and humour, as revealed in her hilarious and often challenging life situations on her journey growing up and through her time in the Regular Army and becoming a successful businesswoman.

Denise is a self-assured, warm and mischievous woman whose curiosity gets the better of her when she decides to see if she can catch up with an old

friend.

Denise's story will touch your heart and leave you smiling.