Christine Moriarty

The inspiring journey of Christine Moriarty (’84), whose Loreto roots, global legal career, and profound personal loss led her to transform adversity into a life of healing, resilience, and helping others thrive.

Christine in her own words:

“On some level, I’ve probably always known this. However, when I was asked to write this just before embarking on my Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, and had the time to reflect deeply, I realised that everything I have accomplished, whether in New York, Australia, or anywhere else, has been directly due to the lessons and values my parents instilled in me, further reinforced by the very empowering education I received at Loreto.

My mother had been Head Prefect and President of the Old Scholars’ Association for many years, so I had always heard wonderful things about Loreto long before I stepped into Grade 1. From the start, I loved many aspects of Loreto, particularly the sporting opportunities. Sport ran in my family, my father’s side included a triple Margery Medal winner, and my mother’s family had Sturt footballers. From a young age, I competed for the school, participating in swimming, athletics, netball, and the Memorial Drive tennis team.

At times, I grew tired of the training. It didn’t get me to the Olympics, but it did enable me, as a 12-year-old, to swim out at a Port Lincoln beach and rescue two seven-year-olds who had floated out to sea on a tyre.

I had several outstanding teachers, but one in particular changed the trajectory of my life. I had written a book to enter The Advertiser book competition in Year 7, and Sister Jan told me I was a writer and should get it published. Although the book didn’t win, her encouragement planted a seed. While I had already decided at age 11 that I wanted to become a lawyer, 25 years later, I went on to write the first of three guidebooks.

I think every year at Loreto was exceptional, and I had many brilliant peers, much more academic than me. However, I had been a prolific reader and was selected to appear on Channel 7’s It’s Academic to answer general knowledge questions. Our coach was my father, and thanks to his team strategy of ‘Just answer whatever you know,’ we made it to the finals and narrowly missed winning a computer, a very big deal in those days!

I was accepted into Adelaide Law School, but the travel bug had bitten. From a young age, I had been inspired by my father and his four siblings’ international adventures, and much of my study time was spent earning money for travel. Once I was admitted to the South Australian Bar and had saved enough, I took a year off to backpack around Europe, planning to begin practising law upon my return.

I was fascinated by Europe, but when I arrived in New York it was love at first sight, a place where I felt anything was possible. From an early age, I had been quite driven, at least by Adelaide standards, and felt that I was supposed to be doing something, but I wasn’t entirely sure what. However, in New York, I thought maybe this is where I am meant to be, at least for a while.

I began my legal career there as a foreign intern/paralegal at one of the oldest international law firms in Manhattan. Two mentors encouraged me to take the New York Bar Exam, and although I thought my chances of passing were close to zero, I decided to give it a try. To my utter surprise, I passed. Len King, the Chief Justice at the time, who had supported my application to sit for the exam, expressed how proud he was that I was the first South Australian to be admitted, but he also found it incredible that the New York Board of Examiners had never even heard of Adelaide, let alone its highly regarded Law School!

I practised as a corporate finance attorney for five years, got married, and commenced an MBA at New York University. Adjusting yet again to the demanding American work ethic, it took me six years to complete the degree. Entrepreneurship was my favourite subject, and inspired by my three-year-old daughter, I wrote a book about living in New York with children. It was carried by Barnes & Noble stores across the U.S., as well as institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Harrods in London. This led to a second edition and a follow-up book on Los Angeles. For the past few years, I’ve been researching a book on global wellness and healing, driven by my own health challenges.

The events of 9/11 were life-changing for me, as I lost two friends, and it marked the beginning of the end of my marriage. Two years later, I filed for divorce. Although it turned into a truly New York-style, highly adversarial divorce, I committed to taking the high road no matter what. During this period, my melanoma recurred, and in 2007, I lost both of my parents in a tragic road accident. Losing the two people who knew and loved me most was devastating, leaving me in a profound physical, emotional, and spiritual crisis. Recovery from the trauma felt insurmountable. But for my daughter, I felt I had to do everything in my power to rebuild my health.

I overhauled my lifestyle, which had been relatively healthy (or so I thought), eliminating meat, sugar, alcohol, and processed foods, and immersed myself in learning about healing. Inspired by figures like Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, Tony Robbins, Stephanie Dowrick, and Eckhart Tolle, along with the legendary Jesuit Anthony de Mello, SJ, I explored topics ranging from the power of the mind and nutrition to self-empowerment and the difference between mental illness and mental injury. I attended workshops and conferences worldwide, studied healing at the world’s oldest alternative health institute in Florida, completed a life coaching course, and became certified as a life and wellness coach.

Today, I consult, write, and speak on health, healing, and happiness, covering topics such as resilience, wellness, spiritual travel, and living your best life. Volunteering remains a priority, and staying involved with the Australian community in New York keeps me grounded and my sense of humour intact, no small feat in NYC!

Having travelled to over 90 countries, from Cuba to Bhutan to Bosnia to Medjugorje, and across six continents, I’ve learned something from every place I’ve visited. The more I experience, the more I realise how much there is still to learn.

I make my health a priority and remain cancer-free. I don’t drink, smoke, or eat red meat, but I admit to one very big addiction: caffeine!

What I know now is that what truly matters isn’t so much what you achieve, but what you overcome. Thanks to my parents instilling in me the belief that nothing is impossible and that you should never give up, and to the lessons reinforced at Loreto through the incredibly rich and well-rounded education I received there, I’ve rebuilt my life, found a new direction, and discovered my true calling: teaching others what I’ve learned.”