Erma Fidler, co-author of Ups & Downs, was born and educated in Melbourne. After living in Mount Waverley for twenty-seven years, the Fidler family moved to Ballarat in 1989 – a transfer she has never regretted. Erma and her husband are the parents of six children. Their fifth child, John Daniel, was born with Down syndrome in 1967 and since that event Erma has focused much of her attention into the disability field.

For many years she was a committee member of the Oakleigh Centre for the Intellectually Handicapped and a convenor of their Cradle Roll Club, which was created to instigate early intervention for the young parents of intellectually handicapped babies and children.

Since 1993 Erma has had a strong involvement with McCallum Disability Services Inc. and is currently a member of the Board of Governors of this organization. She is also presently the secretary of the Brrrr Theatre Group Inc., a group that has an integrated membership of actors – John Daniel is an enthusiastic member of Brrrr. Shows are presented locally and throughout Victoria and the group has taken part in the “Awakening Festival” at Horsham for many years.

Erma is a member of the Ballarat Society of artists. Her work has been displayed in regional galleries including the Convent Gallery in Daylesford.