I was born and raised on Kangaroo Island, and hunting and fishing has been a way of life for as long as I can remember. I shot my first goat on the cliffs of the rugged south coast when I was around twelve, and mounted the nanny’s horns myself. My father was a professional fisherman and from an early age we were out in the boat, haulin’ them in.

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I’ve spoken to quite a few taxidermists, and most of them have been interested in the subject from when they were young. I’m no different, wanting to give it a go when I was a youngster and my older brother took me into the old Hambley Clarke’s gun shop in Rundle Street. One look at the heads on the wall and I was hooked. A trip to the Adelaide museum really amazed me, and I guess it all started from there.

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I hunted hard when I was younger, and many big billies and feral boars were taken on the island. Being so isolated meant that if you wanted an animal or fish mounted, you did it yourself, so I taught myself. From early beginnings, my work has improved. I still have the first goat I shoulder mounted, and although it was rough by today’s standards, it has stood the test of time and looks the same as it did thirty five years ago.

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I’ve also been a writer and photographer for many years, and have produced many hunting and fishing articles for numerous magazines such as Sporting Shooter, Guns and Game, Australian Shooter, Hunter magazine, Fishing World, and others, some no longer publishing.