What’s your connection with the Macedon Ranges?
I transferred to a technical high school and moved to Kyneton with my wife, Karen, and our two young daughters in 1983. Both attended the excellent local government schools.
How long have you lived in the area?
We moved into a teacher house in Kyneton 35 years ago. When the department decided to sell the house, we bought it and have lived in it ever since.
Some may remember you as a Kyneton secondary teacher. What did you teach?
I taught mathematics from year 7 through to year 12. I retired in 2013, after teaching in Kyneton for 30 years.
Why the keen interest in history?
I had a very good history teacher at high school and so I guess it started from then. When I first arrived in Kyneton, I was involved with my family and settling into the school. After a few years, I joined the Kyneton Historical Society, primarily to research the history of our house. After 15 years, I had done about one hour of research on the house, the rest of the time has been finding information for others. The information from the old Kyneton Guardian newspapers is great reading.
What other hats do you wear in the community?
Friends of the Botanic Gardens, Friends of the Kyneton Museum, Macedon Ranges Heritage Council and Discover Historic Kyneton. This latter group has been placing plaques on historic places around Kyneton. This information is about to be published as a book.
Why do you think it’s important to preserve and share history?
Sharing the history means that more people know how important it is and, hopefully, they will then realise that once it’s gone it can never be replaced.
Kyneton was once called “the gateway to history” … I’m not sure it still has that name now.
What would surprise people to know about you?
I am a collector of Phantom comics and also old history and garden books on the Macedon Ranges area.
What’s your favourite place to spend time?
Any of the old gardens in the shire, some of the private gardens are fantastic.
Macedon Ranges is unique in that it has three botanic gardens. As far as I know, no other shire can match this.
What is the best thing about the Macedon Ranges?
The historic buildings, the gardens and the people who give many hours volunteering to make it a better place.
