John grew up [sort of] in a small country town in SouthWest Victoria, close to where he currently lives and works.

Like much of rural Victoria it was imbued with Scottish influences- Scottish family and place names, a Pipe Band, Caledonian Society, Highland and Scottish Country Dance groups, Church and Sunday School, much of which continues albeit in a less dominant form as even rural areas reflect the changing make up of Australia subsequent to modern migration.

He is currently a back rank piper in a grade 4 Pipe Band and engaged in preparations for Camperdown`s annual Robert Burns Scottish Festival. His faithful wife accommodates these eccentricities as do some of his four children.