Simpson was born 30 March 1946, at Forbes in the Central West of New South Wales, to William George and Janet Bower Chalmers [REF].
She received her education as a boarder at the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney at Croydon,[REF] and following matriculation attended Bathurst Teachers College[REF] (an antecedent to Charles Sturt University), graduating with a Diploma of Education in 1965 [REF].