human rights, funeral celebrancy and the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, the London bombing attacks, and Michael Jackson’s victims. In Eureka Street she wrote defending Victorian Police Commissioner Christine Nixon. Spiritual journey Rayner was raised in a very observant Presbyterian family in which she claims to have been influenced to believe in high ideals of justice and fairness. Later on she explored various forms of religious belief. She was particularly influenced by the early spiritual teaching of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (later known as 'Osho') known as the Orange People and their deep focus on meditation. She spent time in the Rajneesh community in Pune, India and in Oregon in the USA . In recent years she has become deeply influenced by the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. As a member of the teaching team at the Campion Centre of Ignatian Spirituality in Kew, Victoria, she guides persons in the Spiritual Exercises. Published worksRooting Democracy: Growing the Society We Want'' (with Jenny Lee) The book explains that democracy can only flourish with visible accountable government. Of particular importance are the safeguards for the less visible - and thus more vulnerable - institutions, such as public prosecutors, human rights commissions, the independence of the judiciary and public service, Freedom of Information (FOI), ombudsmen and other "watchdogs" which provide the checks and balances vital to democracy. The Women's Power Handbook (with Joan Kirner, former Premier of Victoria). The content consists of advice to those women who would be community activists, politicians or senior executives. It advises one how to attain power and use it to advantage society. Inter alia, it describes how to forge alliances with like-minded women, how to discuss tactics for managing meetings, and how to use the media. External links Rachael Kohn interviews Moira Rayner on the ABC's Spirit of Things References 1948 births Australian barristers Writers from Melbourne Australian women lawyers Australian women activists Australian feminist writers Australian spiritual writers Australian human rights activists Women human rights activists Australian women academics Griffith University faculty Living people New Zealand emigrants to Australia University of Western Australia faculty