As the son of a country veterinarian, John spent much of his early life visiting rural communities. While he didn't have the scientific smarts to follow in his father's footsteps, John discovered another way to connect with Country, through storytelling. Sitting around farm tables and campfires, it was through listening to the stories of graziers, stockmen and farmers that John developed a deep connection with the land and an abiding respect for those who work it, walk it, and care for it.
John has written across numerous mediums throughout his varied career, including books. In 2012 his best-selling, Riding The Black Cockatoo, was chosen as a set text for Britain's GCSE students, sitting it alongside classics like Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. In 2021 he led a 500km walk from Brisbane to Taroom, repatriating a 160kg Iman marker stone his father removed from a cattle property over 40 years ago. This journey taught John that the most powerful stories are those told through action, and by community. As one of the founders of Growing Country, he and his teammates have a vision to elevate the incredible stories of those who simultaneously work and heal the land, safeguarding it for future generations.
