John moved to the Fernbank area in 1973 as an 18-year-old with his parents and got to work immediately.

He has long been engaged in the local community, particularly through local sporting club committees, playing and coaching, and the Country Fire Authority (member for 45 years).

Most of the friendships established through contributing to the community in those early years remain current to this day.

John met and later married Leanne Edwards in 1977 and the couple has three children – Justin, Cindy and Tamara. Farming in their own right since 1979, John and Leanne continue to operate their sheep, cattle and cropping farm in the Lindenow South and Fernbank area.

John says he has great pride in having built up their farming enterprise. John stood for council because he believed as a councillor he would be approachable, be able to listen to ratepayers and help foster solutions that would make a difference to council and the community.

Passionate about the opportunities in East Gippsland for investment and younger people servicing existing industries, tourism and the ageing population, John says there is nowhere else you would want to live.