Born in Five Dock, NSW on the 18th December 1939.
Educated at Public Schools.
Work History:
Caltex Trainee – completed Leaving Certificate and Management Certificate at night school.
- Worked in all Departments – Accounting, Purchasing, Marketing and Operations
- 2 years Bachelor of Commerce at University of NSW
Promoted to Area Manager – located Nyngan, NSW – So had to abandon University of NSW studies.
Joined Apex in Nyngan
After 18 months promoted to Area Manager in Katoomba, Blue Mountains
After 2 years promoted to Metropolitan Area Manger of Company owned Service stations.
After 2 years promoted to Area Manager Retail in Newcastle, where I worked for another 2 years.
However, four moves in 7 years with offers of promotion to South Australia made me decide on a career change. I resigned after 18 years service and joined my colleague who started in Caltex at the same time, Phil Moore. He also resigned after his last posting to Canberra. We spent 25 years in our own Real Estate Company during the expansion years when whole Departments were being transferred from Melbourne and Sydney.
During this time I became heavily involved in the Real Estate Institute of the ACT ending up as President, and Chairman of the Multiple Listing Bureau and Chairman of the Canberra Realtor Magazine.
I was also elected to represent ACT on the Real Estate Institute of Australia Board and rose to be President in 1992/1993. An important time in Real Estate and being located in ACT I was able to lobby the Government whenever necessary, and had a security pass to enter Parliament House whenever needed.
In May 1993 I led an Australian delegation to the World Real Estate Conference of FIABCI in Jerusalem and was a keynote speaker.
I was awarded Life Membership of the REI/ACT in 1994 and am still the only Past President to hold office from the ACT Institute.
I also joined Canberra South Rotary Club as a charter member in 1973 and became president in 1977 – total Rotary service over 40 years and still serving.
Appointed JP in NSW in 1992.
At the same time I was part of a consortium who developed self storage in the ACT, UStow It – 3 large sites that included 2 separate on site accommodation units for managers, plus purpose designed buildings for the National Library and Tube Makers and other buildings in Fyshwick.
Sold our Real Estate and business interests in Canberra and retired to the Gold Coast in 1997.
Joined Broadbeach Rotary Club in 1997 – Paul Harris Fellow
Helped Russ Hutchison acquire additional Child Care centres for a period, as his Acquisitions Manager.
Then joined friends of mine to handle marketing and sales of a new marina and shipyard to be built on the Brisbane River (named Rivergate Marina and Shipyard). I handled negotiation and sales of Factory Units on the Hardstand and sales of Marina berths from planning to completion. I travelled to Brisbane and enjoyed watching the project come to fruition.
Part of my marketing role included trips to New Zealand and USA to visit the large boat shows, to let the Maxi/Luxury/boating market know of our expertise in handling overall management and co-ordination of major repairs and maintenance, (many of which run between $500,000 to $1,000,000). Also let them know how beautiful and less crowded Queensland was compared to Monaco and the Carribean and just how vast our coast and Barrier Reef was. Most luxury boat skippers work on a 2-year forward plan for cruising.
Many of the Millionaires/Billionaires in the US still don’t like straying too far from home, but send their boats ahead and mainly fly in and fly out. Some 40% Americans don’t have a passport.
My love of boating attracted me to IYFR (International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians)(the biggest fellowship within Rotary) and I joined the Gold Coast Fleet in 2008 and became Commodore in 2010/2011.
In 2012 I was appointed Regional Commodore (like District Govenor) for Queensland, Northern territory and Northern NSW, I also act as the International Commodore’s Special Assistant and are part of the International Bridge staff. Out next AGM for Area 3 is in Japan on November 2017,(of which I am the Chairman).
Other interests-
Golf twice a week, Burleigh Golf Club
After 12 years as a boat owner (46’ motor boat) we sold it and purchased a 24’van
Now a Grey nomad – last trip 6600km
Overseas travel – 3 more trips this year
Married to Liz, with 2 daughters, 2 sons, 5 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
.JPG)
