Miss Alice Dorothy Burns, the daughter of a Methodist Minister, was born in Sydney on 1903.

She gained ger Intermediate Certificate at Newcastle Grammar School, where she continued as a pupil-teacher until completed her Leaving Certificate. After matriculating, Miss Burns attended Sydney University in the evenings while teaching first at Normanhurst School, Ashfield, and later at Queenwood School, Mosman. In 1926 she accepted a position as a teacher of deaf children at the New South Wales Institution for Deaf, Dumb and Blind, Darlington.

Following the takeover of these premises by the R.A.A.F. in 1942, Miss Burns enlisted in the Australian Women's Army Service. She served with the Army until late 1945, when she resigned from the position of Welfare Officer for Army Women's Service for New South Wales with the rank Lieutenant.

In February, 1946, in response to the need for an oral day school for deaf children, Miss Burns founded Farrar. After seventeen years of dedicated leadership, she resigned as principal of the school in December, 1962, and in the following year was awarded an M.B.E. in recognition of her contribution to the education of deaf children.

Miss Burns died at Mowll Retirement Village, Castle Hill in July 1991.