Birthplace: Melbourne
Marital Status: Married to Dianne, with a daughter Amanda and son Brett
Type of Transplant and at what age? Heart at age 52 - (1997)
Your transplant was needed because you were suffering from: Cardiomyopathy
How long ago was your transplant? 1997
Are you working? If so, what do you do? I sell winning Tattslotto tickets
Where were you/what were you doing when you transplant call came? After only three weeks on the waiting list with my beeper, I was woken by a phone call at 7.30am
Favourite Country/Favourite Place: Queenstown, New Zealand; Rockies, Canada; Mission Beach, Queensland; Bogong, Victoria.
Who inspired you when you were young, why? Essendon Football Team
A most memorable moment? Crossing Princes Bridge at the completion of the 1st Melbourne Marathon in 1987.
A funny / embarrassing incident regarding my transplant life? I have been told of all the 'orders' and 'instructions' I was issuing as I was wheeled into the operating theatre.
Now? Last year I retired from selling winning Tattslotto tickets after 13 years. This year I have celebrated my 11th birthday as a Heart Transplantee, competed in my fourth Lorne Pier to Pub swim, swam an average of 5 km per week, celebrated our grandson's 3rd birthday, celebrated our granddaughter's 1st birthday, joined PROBUS, regularly played pennant and social lawn bowls locally and in country Victoria and NSW, underwent a full prostate operation, joined the local library, visited family connections in Brisbane and Griffith and enlisted for voluntary work!
Next year, my wife Dianne and I plan to: cruise around Australia, continue to enjoy our existing activities, and become involved with whatever else may come along. Dianne and I are forever grateful to the expertise and encouragement offered by the hospital and medical fraternity before and after my transplant. I have also enjoyed comparing notes with Maurie Drew and Neville Eyre, two fellow heart transplantees. Maybe my experiences have inspired or encouraged many of my friends and acquaintances during the past 11 years. Whatever, I just try to lead a normal life.
