Furley Gardner spent her childhood on Cape Barren Island, Tasmania. When her family moved to Flinders Island she worked at a fish cannery and the Flinders Island General Hospital. 'After moving to Launceston she worked on community welfare programs and also involved herself in the Aboriginal political movement. Furley returned to Cape Barren Island in the 1990's, was involved in the campaign to have the island returned to the community and was there to be handed the title in 2005'. Source : Koori Mail no.456 29 July 2009.
