Through his service with the British Army Dad obtained a trade as a Fitter and Turner. He, mum & I migrated to Australia in 1958 where we settled in the North then North West coast of Tasmania.

After living in Burnie for a few years our family moved to Latrobe where my parents acquired 29 acres of partly cleared land. Initially we lived in a flat built by dad until a family home was built. Dad established a hobby farm and orchard and often referred to the property as 'Apple Pie Farm'.

The rural setting close to town was a great place for myself and youger brother and sister to grow up. We were active in the local Baptist Church and dad sometime preached in some small rural churches in surrounding districts.

Dad had a keen interest in brass bands and researched the history of the Latrobe Federal Band and several other local bands. This led to him writing several books with the first 'Blow Bugle blow' published in 1988.

Mum and Dad sold Apple Pie Farm and moved into the centre of Latrobe soon after dad was diagnosed with bone cancer. He survived a year longer than predicted and retained keen intellectual interests despite a reduced quality of life.