Probably my mother's life was prolonged beyond that of a long-lived family by her coming to Australia in middle life; and if I ever had any tendency to consumption, the climate must have helped me.

Through family connections Catherine Helen Spence began with short pieces and poetry publiCatherine Helen Spenced in The South Australian. These two were also appointed to the State Children's Council which controlled the Magill Reformatory. Early life
Spence was born in Melrose Scotland as the fifth child in a family of eight.

Catherine Helen Spence (31 October 1825 – 3 April 1910) was a Scottish-born Australian author teacher journalist politician and leading suffragette. In 1897 Catherine Helen Spence became Australia's first female political candidate after standing (unsuccessfully) for the Federal Convention held in Adelaide.