Sam was brought up on the family farm outside Birregurra with his parents and brothers, Bill and Robin. He attended Winchelsea primary school before attending Geelong College as a boarder. He remembers holidaying in Lorne in his very early years and has been a regular ever since, building a home and eventually retiring here.
After leaving Geelong College, he completed an Associate Diploma of Mechanical Engineering at the Gordon Institute of Technology in Geelong, whilst also working as a live-in House Master at Geelong College.
Upon graduating he accepted employment with Ford Motor Company, thinking he would work there “for a couple of years experience.” He retired from Fords forty years later! During those years Sam, and his wife Ingrid, travelled extensively in every continent, except Antarctica, including periods of residency in Korea and Taiwan. His ‘Product Development’ roles included being Principal Engineer for the range of Mazda based Ford vehicles (extensive visits to Japan), and the design and development of his ‘baby’, the Ford Festiva. Repatriating to Australia in 1991, he became involved in Vehicle Safety and Emission standards during which time he chaired the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (peak Australian vehicle manufacturers body) Technical Committee. This led to Ford World Headquarters appointing Sam as Regional Manager for Asia Pacific.
Sam has been keenly involved with the Lorne Bowls Club, serving as Treasurer for seven years and President for three, and has been fortunate to be involved in several premiership teams. He was honoured with Life Membership in 2014.
Sam and Ingrid, who was an English lecturer at the Gordon Institute before being seconded to Deakin University, met in Geelong and were married in 1977. Ingrid also enjoys her involvement with the Bowls Club, and other Lorne organisations. Their daughter Annabelle and her husband, Marcus, live in Melbourne.
Sam is the currently Treasurer of the Lorne RSL Sub-Branch, and of the Lorne Anglican-Uniting Church.
