Tony was born in Devonport Tasmania and educated at Launceston Church Grammar School. He married Sandra in 1965 and shortly after moved to the USA for three years, and on return to Australia settled in Sydney NSW.
Business:
Tony started his own business in 1975 which today has grown to group of companies in Australia, Hong Kong and China, primarily involved with the manufacturer and supply of sewing and craft products which are sold in over 35 countries. Tony and his three sons now manager the businesses which collectively employs some 600 people.
Community Service
Tony’s career in community service started with Jaycees and then Scouts where he was a Scout leader and Group Leader for 10 years. He joined Rotary in 1987 with the Rotary Club of Epping, and filled many Club and District positions, before becoming District Governor of District 9680 in 2008-09.
Tony is currently a Justice of the Peace (J.P.) NSW.
The Rotary Foundation
Tony is an enthusiastic supporter of The Rotary Foundation. He was the District Rotary Foundation Chair 2012-16 and currently an Assistant Rotary Regional Coordinator 2016-19. (ARRFC) . Tony has raised large amounts of money for the Foundation thru a number of programs which he developed.
He and Sandra are Paul Harris Fellows, members of the Paul Harris Society and the Arch Klumph Society
Tony has been awarded the Citation of Meritorious Service from The Rotary Foundation
Rotary Membership
Membership has been one of Tony’s pursuits in Rotary, and he was a member of the 2012 RI Membership Committee. He produced three series of the Humanity in Motion books for Rotary Down Under, with over 100,000 copies distributed across Australia,.
Tony started the first Australian Rotary E-club, the Rotary E-club of Greater Sydney in 2012
International Service
However Tony’s main love is international aid, and has been involved with aid projects in Nepal, Russia, China, Timor, Mongolia, Uganda, Tanzania, Indonesia, Vanuatu and Fiji. Tony and Sandra have their own foundation “SewAid International”, supplying sewing machines and sewing education to third world countries, with programs in Uganda, Philippines, PNG, Vanuatu, Indonesia, and Fiji. www.sewaid.com.
Tony has been awarded Rotary’s Service Above Self award.
Family
Tony and Sandra currently live in North Avoca, a seaside suburb, one hour by car north of Sydney.
Tony and Sandra have three grown up sons – Christopher, Simon and Michael: Michael being born in Texas. They have five lovely grandchildren, four boys and one girl.
Simon lives in Hong Kong and has recently joined the Rotary Club of Kowloon Golden Mile .
Sandra has been a member of Inner wheel since 1994 and was District Chair in 20013-14.