▁encourag ed ▁and ▁supported ▁her ▁singing , ▁Ag nes ▁taking ▁her ▁to ▁talent ▁compet itions ▁around ▁the ▁country . ▁Ag nes ▁also ▁helped ▁develop ▁Ab original ▁show cases ▁at ▁the ▁Tam worth ▁Country ▁Music ▁Festival ▁in ▁the ▁late ▁ 1 9 9 0 s , ▁which ▁Don ovan ▁took ▁part ▁in . ▁ ▁Education ▁Don ovan ' s ▁family ▁moved ▁frequently , ▁and ▁she ▁attended ▁multiple ▁schools ▁in ▁New ▁South ▁Wales ▁and ▁W A , ▁with ▁an ▁extended ▁time ▁spent ▁at ▁North ▁New town ▁Primary . ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 7 , ▁at ▁age ▁six teen , ▁Don ovan ▁was ▁studying ▁contemporary ▁music ▁at ▁the ▁E ora ▁College ▁for ▁Perform ing ▁Arts ▁in ▁Ch ipp end ale , ▁New ▁South ▁Wales . ▁The ▁school ▁was ▁founded ▁to ▁provide ▁educ ations ▁for ▁Ind igen ous ▁students . ▁She ▁began ▁branch ing ▁out ▁from ▁country ▁music , ▁expl oring ▁reg ga e ▁and ▁R & B ▁as ▁well . ▁ ▁Musical ▁career ▁ ▁St iff ▁G ins ▁In ▁late ▁ 1 9 9 9 , ▁Don ovan ▁formed ▁the ▁vocal ▁ac oust ic ▁band ▁St iff ▁G ins ▁with ▁N ardi ▁Sim pson ▁and ▁K ale ena ▁Brig gs ▁after ▁meeting ▁at ▁the ▁E ora ▁College . ▁They ▁released ▁their ▁first ▁EP , ▁So h ▁Fa , ▁on ▁Sony ▁Records ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 0 . ▁Don ovan ▁co - w rote ▁their ▁second ▁release , ▁the ▁full ▁album ▁Orig ins . ▁The ▁album ▁won ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 0 ▁Dead ly