Born in Hamilton in 1932, Ballin was educated at Street Hilda"s Collegiate School in Dunedin and Waikato Diocesan School in Hamilton. Ballin attended Auckland University College and the University of Canterbury, graduating Bachelor in 1961 and Master of Arts in 1964.
In 2002 she was accorded New Zealand"s highest civilian honour, membership of the Order of New Zealand. In her mid-teens, she suffered from a neurological condition that attacked her spinal column, confining her to a wheelchair for the remainder of her life. A qualified psychologist, she worked as a student counsellor at the University of Canterbury from 1974 to 1986, and served as president of the New Zealand Psychological Service from 1979 to 1980.
She chaired the Victims’ Task Force from 1988 to 1993 and pioneered changes in the criminal justice system to improve justice for victims of crime.
Between 1987 and 1995, she chaired the New Zealand Council for Recreation and served on the Hillary Commission on Recreation and Sport from 1987 to 1990. Ballin died in Christchurch on 2 September 2003.
In the 1982 New Year Ballin was appointed a Commander of the British Empire for services to the disabled. She was promoted to Dame Commander of the same order in the 1993 New Year for services to the community. Ballin received the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal, and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by the University of Canterbury in 2001. In the 2002 Queen"s Birthday and Golden Jubilee Ballin was appointed an additional member of the Order of New Zealand.
From 1987 to 1988, she was a member of the Royal Commission on Social Policy and between 1980 and 1982 she was chairperson of the national committee of the International Year of Disabled Persons.
