Lucille Turfrey was born and raised in Tasmania and became an itinerant art teacher in the Tasmanian Education Department. A change of vocation found her immersed in ministry as a Salvation Army officer. Lucille was appointed to the Officer Training College situated in Melbourne, later becoming principal of this college that catered for interstate and international cadets. Appointments further afield, also relating to Leadership Training, included Scotland and later, in Russia as principal of the Officer Training Institute based in Moscow. Lucille was awarded the OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia) and became a member of the International Society of Poets.