Rosemary was born and brought up in England. She has given her whole time since leaving school working with Initiatives of Change. She speaks German and some French, and is interested in English literature. At the Westminster Theatre she did drama training with Howard Reynolds, then in her late teens and early twenties travelled for four years with the musical show 'Anything to Declare'. She also acted in or directed other plays produced in the Caux theatre and the Westminster Theatre.

In 1973 she married Australian Peter Thwaites (also a German speaker). They worked for a period in Germany, then in 1975 they moved to Australia and lived in Sydney for 32 years where their three children grew up.

Rosemary's IofC work in Australia has included helping to set up several large conferences, assisting at 16 courses ('Life Matters') at the national centre in Melbourne (Armagh) for young adults, and co-editing the bi-monthly newsletter. She has facilitated four Creators of Peace Circles.

For 15 years she was a tutor at the Public Speaking Club at a Sydney high school, helping teenagers to express themselves and to learn effective communication, and training students for competitions in poetry, speech and Bible reading. She also volunteered for six years at a hostel for Aboriginal girls, helping teenagers in the homework centre.

Rosemary (and Peter who had studied Russian) became involved with 'Foundations for Freedom' and in 1997 and 1999 they went as part of a team to Novosibirsk in Siberia to facilitate two 'Visiting Courses' for young Russians, invited by the university there.

Rosemary has done several courses in Counselling in Sydney, including a diploma of Health Counselling. In 2008, the Thwaites moved to Canberra where Rosemary enjoys regular contact with her grandchildren. She plays tennis regularly, swims and sings in a choir.