As a child I was always fascinated with the medical sciences and decided to train in either medicine or veterinary science, with my mother steering me to the former. I did my medical training at the University Of Melbourne, with postings to both the Austin and Heidelberg Repatriation General Hospitals. From there I moved to the Western Suburbs spending a year at the Williamstown District Hospital, and I fell in love with the suburb, as did my wife Anne who was also working there. I subsequently purchased a home in nearby Altona, and still reside in that area today.