Dulcie Dennis was the fifth child born to Joanna Cruise, originally from the south coast of New South Wales, and Dudley Dennis from Brewarrina. Dennis's father worked on stations as an Overseer and as a sawmill operator. The family moved around until they built a house at Gingie. Dennis left school at fifteen and lived with her aunt in Brewarinna so that she could work; her first job was at a dry cleaners. Dennis married George Fernando at the age of nineteen and they had thirteen children together.
