Sacre Coeur, Paris
I have always been surrounded by books. I grew up in a household that loved the written word and my father often read stories to me as a child. My mother was also an avid reader. Youth was spent devouring science fiction and fantasy novels. I don't think I had a particularly discerning taste and anybody who read fantasy in the 1970s will tell you that there were far few writers in that genre on offer then.
I was also fortunate to belong to a family that travelled. My father was academic in the french language discipline. Quite a rare area of specialisation in Australia. As a consequence of study and sebatical leave, we got to see some interesting parts of the world.
From the age of two to four I lived in France, where my brother was born. I had actually learnt French as a secondary (or possibly primary) language but sadly lost it when I returned to Australia, despite my parents best efforts.
I was also fortunate to belong to a family that travelled. My father was academic in the french language discipline. Quite a rare area of specialisation in Australia. As a consequence of study and sebatical leave, we got to see some interesting parts of the world.
From the age of two to four I lived in France, where my brother was born. I had actually learnt French as a secondary (or possibly primary) language but sadly lost it when I returned to Australia, despite my parents best efforts.
Perth - taken from Kings Park (2009)
Returning to Australia my family settled in Perth for four years. Though nominally belonging to part of Australia, Western Australia sees itself, and genuinely feels, like a country in its own right. Anybody who has lived there will attest to this fact. After all it is isolated by the grand expanse of the Nullabor Plains.
The light is different in the West. It has a raw starkness to it. And the beach have a bleached whiteness to them that make then seem harder, more essential than their east coast counterparts. WhenI returned there some four decades later all of this would come rushing back. If you doubt this difference just read authors that have come out of the West. Tim Winton, Robert Drewe - the sense of place and difference weave throughout their works.
In Western Australia our family grew to five, with the addition of my sister.
The light is different in the West. It has a raw starkness to it. And the beach have a bleached whiteness to them that make then seem harder, more essential than their east coast counterparts. WhenI returned there some four decades later all of this would come rushing back. If you doubt this difference just read authors that have come out of the West. Tim Winton, Robert Drewe - the sense of place and difference weave throughout their works.
In Western Australia our family grew to five, with the addition of my sister.
In 1970 my family moved to Armidale where my father took up the professorship at the University of New England. So much of my life revolves around this wonderful city. It's a special place to grow up. A rare mix of rural and cultural, thanks to the influence of the University.
Whilst living in Armidale the family still had plenty of opportunity to travel and we spent a better part of a year in France in 1972, followed by six months in Canada and France in 1980. My brother and I also travelled for six weeks around Europe in 1983.
I spent the next 15 years in Armidale, completing my schooling and then going on to Univeristy there where I completed my Science Degree with Hons in Physics. More importantly, I met my wife. We left Armidale in 1986, got married and then proceeded to have two boys.
Whilst living in Armidale the family still had plenty of opportunity to travel and we spent a better part of a year in France in 1972, followed by six months in Canada and France in 1980. My brother and I also travelled for six weeks around Europe in 1983.
I spent the next 15 years in Armidale, completing my schooling and then going on to Univeristy there where I completed my Science Degree with Hons in Physics. More importantly, I met my wife. We left Armidale in 1986, got married and then proceeded to have two boys.
Wallis Lake, Forster NSW
For the next few years we roamed around before settling in Forster NSW in 1998, where I took up the post of the Manager of the local public library service. Forster-Tuncurry is one of the most beautiful sections of the NSW coastline and is blessed with a mild climate. An ideal holiday destination.
Though happily ensconced in this region the urge to travelled remained and will do so until the grave. The first overseas trip for the whole family was to New Zealand in 2000. This was followed by a much larger venture around Europe in 2004. Since then we have travelled to Western Canada, Borneo, Brazil, East Coast of the US, China, British Isles and Eastern Europe and the Balkans. We had successfully now passed the travel bug on to the children.
Though happily ensconced in this region the urge to travelled remained and will do so until the grave. The first overseas trip for the whole family was to New Zealand in 2000. This was followed by a much larger venture around Europe in 2004. Since then we have travelled to Western Canada, Borneo, Brazil, East Coast of the US, China, British Isles and Eastern Europe and the Balkans. We had successfully now passed the travel bug on to the children.
I love reading, writing and travelling. The same could be said from most of my family. It should come as no surprise then that when the urge to write hit in full swing I constantly found my compass pointing to travel books. I have dabbled with fantasy, and hope to go there again some time with more serious purpose, but if I really want to lose myself in the writing experience then I do so by travelling the globe.
