a figment of your imagination, my dear

Born in Canberra in 1944, Elizabeth grew up under the shadow of her father, Sir Frederick Wheeler, a man destined for one of the highest offices in Australia. To the outside world, her family appeared accomplished and respectable. This perception hid a childhood scarred by abuse and maintained by silence — abuse that distorted her sense of self and her understanding of love. As Elizabeth steps into adulthood, the wounds of her past resurface in the form of fragile mental health and fractured relationships.Then, at her father’s wake, she makes an unexpected and disturbing discovery — onethat reveals hidden truths about her father’s dark side.

In …a figment of your imagination, my dear, Elizabeth shares her remarkable story with raw honesty, courage, and humour. She also issues a vital call: for survivors to speak out, for loved ones to listen, and for silence to no longer protect perpetrators. Her son Andrew has encouraged and collaborated with Elizabeth on her memoir throughout the journey.