Neil met his wife to be Maree, in June 1962 and was married in June 1968. Since then three children arrived – son Stuart and daughters Jacquelyn and Rebecca. There are now four grandchildren, Billy, Holly, Stephanie and Jake.
He did his schooling from 1948 to 1959 at Coburg Primary and High School. Neil started his working life at C. Stokes & Co as a Wharfage Clerk in 1960. Keen to improve his knowledge he attended Taylor’s Business College, then gained his Certificate of Accountancy at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. He became the assistant accountant at Replex Pty Ltd from 1961 to 1966. He moved to Clifton Brick Holdings where he held several management positions until becoming Victorian State Manager in 1983. He held senior managerial positions with companies in that industry until his retirement in 2006.
It became obvious at a young age Neil would spend a lot of time in the water as he was a highly rated swimmer. Since those early days he has devoted much of his life to his involvement with Surf Lifesaving.
He was a member of his school swimming team from 1951 to 1959. He joined the Apollo Bay Surf Club in 1963 and received his Bronze Medallion in 1964. He was Secretary from 1971 to 1986 and Treasurer from 1986 to 1995. He was recognised as best Club member on three occasions and received Life Membership in 1980.
After the family purchased a home in Lorne in 1984 Neil joined the Lorne SLSC and was vice president from 1999 to 2010 and president from 2010 to 2012. He won the President’s award on eight occasions. He became a Life Member of the Lorne SLSC in 2008. He held many positions at State and National level over many years and became a Life Member of Surf Life Saving Victoria in 1995 and Australia in 2003.
He was awarded an OAM in 2010 for services to Life Saving.
Neil has had some serious health issues in more recent times but his positive outlook keeps him busy and happy with his lot in life. Neil and his family love living in Lorne.
