I trained and began working as a journalist (mainly agricultural) in 1980. In the mainshear of 1984/85 I did my first stint as a woolhandler, in my home area of the King Country. This was followed by a season in South Australia where I met merino wool, and got bitten by the wool-bug. In 1987 I gained my Cert Wool from Lincoln and I have been classing, seasonally, since then. Currently my sheds are spread between Central Otago and the Canterbury high country.