About Me:

I was born and grew up in Sydney, Australia. I started my working life in a factory assembly line on weekends making little plastic drink bottles while still at high school. After leaving school in 1979 I started a TAFE course in Biological Technicians Certificate (1980), then worked as an orderly at the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney. I started General Nurse training (1981-82) at the Royal North Shore Hospital. I couldn't stand the shift work, so didn't complete the nurse training and worked for a number of companies as a storeman/forklift operator and delivery driver for a couple of years. Around the early 80s I also got together with some mates and we formed a folk band playing firstly on the streets, and then around the pubs and clubs in Sydney. We had a number of residencies around Sydney, particularly the Rose Shamrock & Thistle in Balmain (a major folk venue in the 70-s and 80s) and Ivanhoe Hotel, Manly. I soon realised there was no money as a professional musician (especially not in folk music).  I did the big European backpacker thing for about a year in 1985.

In 1986, I got into a Bachelor of Applied Science at the University of Technology, Sydney, majoring in Environmental Biology. I married in 1987 and we were both studying for degrees while working part-time in restaurants and coffee shops and the odd music gig for the next few years. 

In 1989 I graduated from my BSc. Honours degree and won a UTS Doctoral Scholarship to undertake my PhD in Plant Ecology. During this time I picked up much casual work and as a part-time Associate Lecturer at UTS, which greatly extended my PhD candidature. Having run out of scholarship, I found work firstly as a scientific officer with the NSW Environmental Protection Authority (1993-94), then as a botanist with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, involved with vegetation surveys in northern New South Wales (1994-95). I finally graduated with my doctorate in 1996. In 1995 I was appointed as Lecturer in Plant Ecology at USQ and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in Ecology & Sustainability in 2007.

My Girls:

I have two lovely daughters: Phoebe (born in Sydney in June 1995) and Aimee (born in Toowoomba in October 1998), whom I share care of. Unfortunately, both girls are growing up all too quickly.

Interests:

Music:

Since about 1980, I have kept my interest in folk music, particularly bluegrass, and played in a number of line-ups in Sydney, such as The Last Straw, Homebrew Bluegrass Band, and Inner City Mountain Boys. Bluegrass has its roots in that high Appalachian mountain sound that comes with banjos, fiddles and mandolins.  In 1996, Kathy (who plays a mean banjo) and I got together with a couple (Annie & James) we met in Toowoomba, who surprisingly had the same interests in music. In that year we formed Copper Kettle and played at events around Toowoomba and festivals all over the country. I play guitar and mandolin and venture into the odd vocal as well.

In October 2001, Copper Kettle released their first and only CD, Long Journey Home at a national festival in Victoria - Harrietville Bluegrass and Traditional Country Music Convention. In 2002, a move by James & Annie to Sydney for work resulted in a line up change with Jeff and Mark Webber joining Kathy & myself. Sadly, Copper Kettle disbanded in 2004.

Motorbikes:

I've been riding motorcycles since about 1981. Currently I am riding a 1998 BMWR1100R, an absolute dream machine!

Other bikes I have owned:

 Biological Drawing:

Some of my sketches: