He worked in journalism and public relations before his election to federal parliament and was a leading campaigner for New England statehood at the height of the movement in the 1960s.
His father, a moulder by profession, was an Australian Army officer during World War II and served in the Battle of Tobruk.
[2] He subsequently worked an office job in Sydney and also served with the Citizen Military Forces from 1952 to 1954.
He moved to South West Queensland in 1956 following his marriage, working as a station hand, overseer and manager at his wife's parents' grazing property.
He moved to Coffs Harbour later that year where he worked as a freelance journalist and life insurance salesman.
Outside of politics he served on the board of the Royal Freemasons Benevolent Institution and as president of the Coffs Harbour Regional Conservatorium.