Krista Vane-Tempest

(nee Kneeshaw)

1985 - 1988

Lawyer, writer and historian Krista Vane-Tempest (Kneeshaw) has long been drawn to the stories that shape people’s lives and history. Raised in country New South Wales as the daughter of a teacher, she came to the Australian National University in the 1980s to study law, English, history and politics, living at John XXIII College from 1985 to 1988. It was there that she met her husband, Paul, and formed many of the friendships that have remained central to her life for more than three decades.

After graduating, Krista worked as a lawyer in private firms and in-house legal teams within the Commonwealth Public Service. Alongside her legal career she pursued a long-standing passion for writing, completing a Graduate Diploma in Professional Writing. Her historical non-fiction book Edith Blake’s War was published in 2021, bringing to light the remarkable story of an Australian nurse during the First World War. Since 2011 she has also volunteered as a guide and trainer at the Australian War Memorial, sharing the personal stories behind Australia’s military history with visitors from around the world.

Krista and Paul returned to Canberra in 1996 to raise their three children and have remained closely connected to the city and the community they first discovered during their university years. Whether researching history, guiding visitors at the War Memorial, or bushwalking with family and friends, she continues to be motivated by a lifelong curiosity about people and the stories that shape their lives.

Quote

"You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

- Winnie-the-Pooh

All photographs © Bronte Morel 2026 and not to be reproduced.