Before I graced this planet, I used to be in Mum’s tum, whilst Dad would brave the ocean on his Wave Ski, sometimes getting the ride of his life, sometimes getting into a pickle.

I was born in Waratah, Newcastle, Australia... A steel city. Apparently there is surf there, but I wasn’t to know. The first part of my life was living in Nelson’s Bay, a little oceanside town 50kms north of Newcastle.

It seems I was destined to be an ocean lover, except for the sand, where I would cry if I touched it. A beach towel became my best friend, apart from my brother who I did everything with, a brotherly bond that would last through the ages.

Four years later, the move was decided, Noosa or Tassie. John and Annie (Dad and Mum) chose Tasmania, good decision! Tasmania was a little person's dream, as their was so much to see and do; trees and rocks to climb, surfing, bushwalking, friends fun, cliffjumping, sandboarding, the list goes on... We would constantly move from house to house, Cygnet to Lindisfarne, Hobart to Bellerive, Lewisham to Dodges Ferry... this is where we found some contentment.

I loved moving in a lot of respects, getting a fresh start here and there, new surrounds; it has given me the versatility now to search far beyond home, even though starting new schools was very scary! I think this was a big contributor to my love for travel, I seem to get bored being in the same place for too long. I thank my parents for that, along with everything else! Tasmania offered so much for me and my bro, this little island was a source of endless magic and intrigue.

At ten years old, I stumbled across surfing, or should I say bodyboarding. A girl named Jackie, got me out their one day to test the waters at Park Beach, I liked it. So the pestering started with Mum and Dad, then at Christmas time, along came the bodyboards. Three months later, getting bored with lying down, Roger (my brother) and I stood up on them. So yet more pestering, the cries of "mum, dad, can we have a surfboard", lead us to our first surfboards.

Our love affair with surfing began. Our local beach was Park Beach, rated in Australia's Surfing Life as ‘one of the worst waves in Australia’ but to us, it was all we ever dreamed of. The swell had to wrap around South East Cape, past Bruny Island and South Arm, until it got us. Sometimes we would wait weeks for a big enough swell to get in, but we had a few secret spots we could rely on in between.

I loved the cold too, wetsuits all year round, 3/2 in summer, 5/4/3, boots, gloves and helmet in winter. I remember surfing when it was snowing, walking home almost crying after forgetting my boots, feeling the road bore into my feet like knives. You really feel alive surfing in the cold; it’s so invigorating!

The competitive streak in my brother and I started to shine through, we started competing state wide, with the help of Mum and Dad taking us everywhere. We visited some of the most remote, amazing places in Tasmania. I ended up winning 2 Cadet State Titles, but after representing Tasmania on the mainland, we realised how far behind the game we where in ability... change was on all our minds.

1995 saw a new beginning for the whole family. With Mum and Dad making the biggest of sacrifices, we were off, they left everything for us, something I will be forever grateful for. Having our hearts set on moving to Yamba, we got sucked into the magical surrounds of Byron Bay instead.

The next obstacle was to catch up to everyone, I was way behind the eight ball, but I was up for the challenge! I started small, joining the local boardriders improving with every event. The surfers here are fantastic; they all ripped! Steadily I went through the Regional and State levels, up into the Pro Juniors and beyond, Internationally.

Surfing isn’t the only thing keeping me here in Byron Bay; I love the vibe of the town, the diversity and open minded view. Seeing a variety of people attracted to our little slice if heaven makes me really appreciate being a part of Byron , the constant flow of energy making life very unique. A place I'll call home indefinately...

History it seems is being written...

Nelson Bay in 1983. I'm getting used to the sand, I was petrified to touch the stuff, let alone the beach... yuck!


I love cats, I've lived with them throughout my life. I have two living with me now in Byron Bay called Ginger and Kami...Cats are way better than Dogs! Bellerive, 1989.


My first magical day of surfing, captured on film. Both my brother and I where riding nice big thrusters, so we where up instantly after riding unstable bodyboards. Carlton Rivermouth, Dodges Ferry, 1990.


Dad (John), Roger and I in 1992. Campfire life in the Tassie bush, searching for some waves. The days when you could camp anywhere for free hey!


Roger and Myself camping out in the bush, somewhere in Tasmania, 1992.


Getting cosy after a winter's surf at Park Beach, Dodges Ferry, 1993.


Rain, surf, wind and run-off for days created head high foam at Park Beach, Tasmania, 94. The stuff was so think and vast, my brother almost got lost in it, we where all panicking to find him.


The family, at nature park near Sydney 2000/01.