Bruny Island is my home, my grandparents moved to Bruny in 1911. Growing up on the Island our family were primary producers producing apples, pears, beef cattle and sheep. I still run 33 head of beef cattle as a hobby. I learned and enjoyed fixing our farm machinery which lead to an apprenticeship as a fitter and turner in Hobart. Then furthering my studies with a Diploma of Mechanical Engineering. During my 7 years living and working in Hobart I learnt how to sail yachts, mainly a small sail boat called a Fireball which is a 2 person crew boat 4 meters long with 3 sails. I also had an opportunity to sail in the Sydney- Hobart yacht race in 1980. I traveled extensively overseas and during my European holiday in 1982 I sailed with my cousin in his Fireball and came 2nd in the European Championships.
In 2000 I was involved in creating Bruny Island Arts (BIA), the island’s first art group and I have been a regular committee member since then. BIA has hosted many successful art exhibitions on Bruny Island and the Salamanca Arts Centre in Hobart and has run numerous workshops and other activities.