Stephanie Legg England
Registered Marriage Celebrant and Independent Chaplain
“Steph the Indie Chaplain”
[email protected]
Mobile: 0439070593
Stephanie’s Background
My philosophy
My story
Positions held
Qualifications
Writing
Public Speaking
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My philosophy
My philosophy is simple.
Seek stillness and open yourself to inspiration,
both when you are alone and with others,
because this is enough to help you solve all problems practical problems, interpersonal problems and community problems,
and sooner or later it will also help you to decide whether there is a God without the slightest need for peer pressure or violence.
BACKGROUND OF STEPH THE INDIE CHAPLAIN
My story
I was born in Beaconsfield, Tasmania, in Australia in 1966, not long after my parents
migrated from England. My father, John Legg, was a Methodist church minister. My
mother, Ruth Legg, was a qualified lay preacher and social worker.
Much of my childhood was in Penguin, north-west Tasmania, where my father
became the Methodist (and then Uniting) Church minister. I enjoyed the community there
and I still draw inspiration from the model of spiritual leadership which my father provided
in the church. My work today as an independent chaplain is based on the range of work
which may be done by such a traditional religious leader (including group leadership,
counselling, helping people to pray and reflect, fostering community, and leading
ceremonies).
In the 1970s, my parents founded the Spectrum Fellowship to help promote spiritual
development and to give people a safe place to discuss their mystical experiences. One of
their main goals was to help people overcome generalised
fears of paranormal experience and to teach the difference
between fruitful experiences (full of love, light and
closeness to God) and darker experiences, for which they
advocated caution and healing. Their approach appealed to
people from many backgrounds, including traditional
Christian backgrounds, other religions, New Age and
agnostics. My parents appeared on national television, in
the press and in books because of their extensive interest
in ghosts and exorcisms. Conversations in the Legg
household while I was growing up were very open-minded
and inclusive while having high standards of love and
ethics.
Being quite academically gifted, I moved to Canberra at the age of sixteen to study
science at the Australian National University. At this stage I put aside my parents’ beliefs in
Christ and the paranormal in order to explore other ways of
thinking about life. After four years of study, I was awarded
First Class Honours in Psychology, a University Medal and the
Australian Psychological Society Prize for a thesis on intrusive
(obsessive) thoughts. I became a tutor in psychology and a
research assistant studying compulsive gambling. Interested in
holistic health care, I then completed a Masters degree in
Human Sciences, consisting of a thesis on the value of patient
participation in health treatment decisions.
Married at age eighteen, I moved to Norway with my
husband in 1989 for postgraduate research experience. I was
awarded the Audry Jorss, Freda Freeman award for overseas
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BACKGROUND OF STEPH THE INDIE CHAPLAIN
travel, and became a research associate at the Department of Behavioural Medicine in
Trondheim, Norway. There I completed literature studies of emotional disorders.
Returning to Canberra in 1991, I worked as an archivist at the Social Science Data
Archives at the Australian National University. I was responsible for detailed scrutiny of
major social science data sets, and compiling accurate documentation. I gained valuable
experience in writing manuals and editing catalogues and newsletters.
My next employment was as a Health Officer at the Department of Veterans Affairs,
where I was responsible for research and policy advice concerning the health of elderly
veterans. Feeling that this was not my “dream” career, I left this position to try my hand at
a career in creative writing. I won several awards and commendations for poetry and short
stories. I also became an active member of Toastmasters and was awarded the Competent
Toastmaster Award and various competition awards. I returned to the Department of
Veterans Affairs briefly as a consultant, and also worked as consultant for a management
psychology business.
My first child arrived in 1997 and my second arrived
in 1998. During my second pregnancy, I completed a book
on setting and pursuing goals, for use by a goals-coaching
business.
My second child was diagnosed with a
chromosome disorder and I became involved in early
intervention programs and frequent medical appointments.
When my children were aged two and three, my
husband passed away with cancer of the pancreas. Raising
the children alone, I developed two new strong interests –
meditation, to help me cope and as a way to explore a
deeper meaning to my hardships, and community work,
motivated by my concern that many people can become
isolated within our society.
I learnt to completely silence my mind in meditation
and I began to have regular mystical experiences including visions of light, an overwhelming
presence of love, and long streams of inner verbal advice. I found parallels between my
experiences and literature from seekers from all spiritual backgrounds including – but not
limited to - Christian mystics. I became convinced that God exists and, no matter how harsh
the natural and human world happens to be, God is evident in his attempts to guide and
comfort those who have learnt to open their channel to him. I concluded that an inner
journey, seeking stillness and inspiration, is the necessary and sufficient way to find God.
Moreover, it seemed to me, that even without faith in God, seeking stillness and inspiration
is the best way to go about solving any problem. Seeking stillness and inspiration is a winwin formula for atheists and seekers alike.
I became involved in teaching meditation and giving talks on stress management. To
explore my interest in mystical experiences further, I completed some courses with the
Clairvision School of Meditation, including regression therapy. I also served as a part-time
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BACKGROUND OF STEPH THE INDIE CHAPLAIN
chaplain at a multi-faith chaplaincy centre and
led a children’s group at a local church, served on
the board of the ACT Disability and Aged Care
Advocacy Service, served on a Body Corporate
committee, and performed some research about
purpose-built villages for people with disabilities
for the Community Living Project.
Due to her chromosome disorder, my
second child has several disabilities, including a
severe intellectual disability, hearing impairment, motor disorders, and foot deformities.
During high school, my other child began to have learning difficulties and I home-schooled
her for four years. At age fourteen, this child was diagnosed with a life-threatening brain
disorder (AVM). She had brain surgery at age fifteen, resulting in permanent paralysis in her
right hand and cognitive deficits. I now consider myself to be an expert at raising children
with disabilities!
Keeping in mind the ongoing needs of my children, I decided to begin a home-based
business which would enable me to pursue my passions for spirituality, meditation and
community. I registered my business, Grace Junction, in 2013 and began to offer my
services as an independent chaplain. I am available for counselling and general spiritual
support, group leadership, and freelance writing on spiritual topics.
In 2014, I completed a Certifcate IV in Celebrancy, including funeral celebrancy, and
became a registered marriage celebrant. This fulfilled my desire to be able to offer the full
range of services which might be offered by other spiritual leaders, including weddings,
namings and other ceremonies. My goal when conducting a ceremony is to help the
client(s) to celebrate the occasion, help them process the event on an emotional level, help
to consolidate the support of the people gathered, and to capture the full spiritual depth of
the event, as seen by the client. For some clients, the ceremony is about observing the
obvious natural beauty of life, whilst for others it includes some vision of a soul or a magical
side to life, while to others, a ceremony is an opportunity to openly interact with God.
Since the beginning of 2015, I have able to provide a permanent meeting room for
spiritual and community events. I am delighted to host or MC events which promote
connections between people and/or which help people to
experience stillness and inspiration. I am currently involved in
running three groups, each which aim to foster personal and
community development in different ways – through
motivation, meditation skills, and spiritual guidance
respectively.
It is with great joy that I look forward to continuing my
work with spiritual and community development.

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BACKGROUND OF STEPH THE INDIE CHAPLAIN
Positions Held
Current
Independent Chaplain and Manager of Grace Junction (self-employment), 2013Registered Marriage Celebrant, 2014Co-organiser, Free Form Meditation Group, Canberra, 2014Organiser, Spiritual Guidance Group, Canberra, 2015Organiser, Living your Life on Purpose, Canberra, 2015Previous Paid Employment
Archive Officer, Australian Data Archive, ANU, 2009-2011
Consultant in management psychology, Durham Smith & Associates, 1996
Senior Officer in the Health Program of Department of Veterans Affairs, 1993-1994
Research Assistant, Social Science Data Archives, Australian National University, 1991-1993
Research Associate, Dept of Psychiatry and Behavioural Medicine, Uni of Trondheim, 1990-1991
Research Assistant, Psychology Department, Australian National University, 1987-1988
Tutor, Psychology Department, Australian National University, 1987-1988
Previous Voluntary Positions
Member of Mensa, 2009-2011
Research consultant, Community Living Project Inc, 2009
Committee member, Body Corporate Management Committee, True North, 2009
Board member, ACT Disability Aged and Carer Advocacy Service, 2005-2007
Chaplain, Australian National University, 2005-2006
Leader of Kids’ Club, Kippax Uniting Care, 2005-2006
Vice-President of Education, Uni II Toastmasters, 2005-2006
Meditation teacher, Burton & Garran Hall, ANU, 2005-2006
Guest speaker, various stress management and meditation workshops, 2001-2006
Volunteer supervisor at the Crisis Detoxification Centre, ACT, 1991
Lifeline Counsellor, 1988
Youth leader at outreach holiday camps for school children, 1980-1982
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BACKGROUND OF STEPH THE INDIE CHAPLAIN
Qualifications
Academic Qualifications
Certificate IV in Celebrancy, Australian Celebrations Training, 2014.
MSc, Human Sciences Program, Australian National University, 1988-1989
BSc (Hons & University Medal), Psychology Department, Australian National University, 1983-1986
Academic Awards
Australian National University Overseas Experience Award for General Staff, 1992
Audrey Jorss – Freda Freeman Award for overseas study, 1989
University Medal, Australian National University, 1986
Australian Psychological Society Prize, 1986
National Undergraduate Scholarship, 1983-1986
Tasmanian University Regional Scholarship, 1982
Dux of Parklands High School ,1981
Other Courses Completed
Massage Skills for Carers, Canberra Institute for Technology, 2009
Godly Play, Jeanette Ackland, 2006
Inner Space Interactive Sourcing (Regression Therapy), Clairvision School, 2004
Awakening the Third Eye, Clairvision School, 2003
Health Program Evaluation Workshop, National Centre for Health Program Evaluation, Fairfield, 1993
Postgraduate Research Course in Behavioural Medicine, University of Trondheim, 1990
Norwegian Language Course, Trondheim, 1990
Lifeline Course for Telephone Counselling, Canberra, 1988
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BACKGROUND OF STEPH THE INDIE CHAPLAIN
Writing
Published work – Scientific and Technical
Suicide Risk in the Elderly. In: Veterans’ Health. Department of Veterans Affairs, Canberra, 1994.
Australian Veterans and War Widows: Their Lives, Their Needs. AGPS, Canberra 1994.
Australian Election Study, 1993: User’s Guide. Social Science Data Archives, Canberra, 1993.
Editor of ACSPRI Newsletter, 1993
Editor of SSDA Catalogue, 1993
Patients’ Choices and Perceptions After an Invitation to Participate in Treatment Decisions. In Social
Science and Medicine, Great Britain, 1992.
The Nature and Treatment of Excessive Gambling. In: Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, Sweden, 1991.
Intrusive Thoughts: Unpleasantness Not the Major Cause of Uncontrollability. In: Behaviour
Research and Therapy, Great Britain, 1988.
Assistant author for several other international journal articles on compulsive gambling.
Published work – Creative
Is God more Accessible to Mensans? – article published in TableAus, No 386, 2009
Cake and Make-up – article published in Canberra’s Child, 2011
Migraine – short story published in Siblings, Fremantle Arts Press, 1997
Awards - Poetry
Indulgence – highly commended in the Obscure Realms poetry competition, 1997
The Conception – short-listed for the Eaglehawk Dahlia & Arts Festival Literary Competition, 1997
Cleaning Lady – merit award in the Making Friends Writing Competition, 1996
Precipitation – short-listed in the FAW ACT Literary Competition, 1996
Heels While-U-Wait – merit award in the Writers World Golden Opportunity Contest, 1996
Wild Wondering - third place in Clarissa Stein Multicultural Poetry Prize (Rhyming), 1996
Awards – Short Stories
Living with Dazzle – Winner of the FAW Jennifer Burbidge Short Story Award, 2011
Inspector Clipboard and the Chaos of Mistaken Identity – Certificate of Commendation in the
Todhunter Literary Award, 1997
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BACKGROUND OF STEPH THE INDIE CHAPLAIN
Public Speaking
Public Speaking Engagements
Spiritual and Psychic Development Seminar, guest speaker, Devonport, 2010
Spiritual and Psychic Development Seminar, guest speaker, Hobart, 2009
St Matthews Catholic Church Meditation Group, guest leader, 2006
Kippax Uniting Church Meditation Group, guest leader, 2006
Stress management workshop, Chromosome 18q deletion national conference, Canberra, 2002
Stress management workshop, Playgroup, Kippax Uniting Care, 2002
Stress management workshop, Mothers Group, Child Health Clinic, Florey, 2001
Stress management workshop, Centre for Infant Sensory Impairment, Canberra, 2001
Meditation – a ten week course for beginners and a ten week continuing course, Canberra, 2001
Public Speaking Awards
Toastmasters International: Region Awards Second place, Canberra and Region, Speech Contest 2005
Toastmasters International: Area Awards –
Second place, Area Speech Evaluation Contest, 2006
Second place, Area Speech Contest, 2006
Second place, Area Table Topics Contest, 2005
First place, Area Speech Contest, 2005
Second place, Area Speech Contest, 1996
Toastmasters International: Club awards First place, Club Speech Evaluation Contest, 2006
First place, Club Speech Contest, 2006
Member of the Year, 2005
First place, Table Topics Contest, 2005
First Place, Club Speech Contest, 2005
Competent Toastmaster Award, 2005
First place, Club Speech Contest 1995
Member of the Year, 1995
First place, Club Speech Contest, 1994
First place, Club Impromptu Speaking Contest, 1994.
Public Speaking Prize, Parklands High School, 1981
Tasmanian third place winner in Jaycees Youth Speaks for Australia Contest, 1980
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