1

I was born in Western Australia in Jarradale to a pioneering family from Kondinin.

My grandfather was one of the first to open up the Kondinin district at the turn of the 19th century. He was later killed in action at during the Great War .

My father, Frank, spent six years of the second war in Egypt and Borneo (7/42 infantry) returning toa farming block in west Kondinin where ill health led him and family to move to Serpentine where I was born.

I grew up in the Perth suburbs finishing my schooling at Kent Street Senior High in the early 70s and went to do an apprentice at the Midland Rail Yards as a Coppersmith.

I later found out this was a dying trade and my country blood was starting to flow, so after great difficulty I was released from my apprenticeship and I headed north, the best thing I ever did because the Midland rail yards were the 18th century pits.

2

I ended up in the Kimberley on the cattle stations as a “ringer”, mustering cattle and rodeo riding.

This was great fun for a young and fit fellow for a few years —the rough life, living in a swag and riding mongrel brumbies for a living was tough.

Most of the horses on the stations were quite good breeds but some times you drew a “mad hatter” and most of the scars on my body are due to the horses or bulls from the rodeos.

I eventual worked my way south to the quiet life, working sheep and driving harvesters.

I returned to school at Fremantle TAFE in 1977 to study wool classing, which became my life, going from one sheering shed to another and eventually meeting my wife of 26 years, Colette.

She settled me down and for the first time in my life I stayed at one job for more than six months. This was in Northcliffe with the Manjimup Shire as leading hand/grader operator and I have been with local government ever since.

Twenty-five years later and with a Certificate 4 in Occupational Health and Safety and a Supervisor’s certificate in Municipal Works and Road Construction, I am firmly en-trenched here in Collie as a technical services officer.