Wearne was born in Sydney and attended Newington College (1981–1989)[1] where he took up rowing and was coached by Olympian and Old Newingtonian Michael Morgan OAM.

[2] Wearne first made state selection for New South Wales in the 1992 senior eight which contested the King's Cup at the Australian Rowing Championships.

At the 1995 World Rowing Championships in Tampere they took silver finishing second behind the formidable British crew of Redgrave and Pinsent.

As an Australian Institute of Sport selection eight they contested and won the 1997 Grand Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta.

[7] In 1998 he again stroked the Australian men's eight and at the 1998 World Rowing Championships in Cologne they raced to a six placed finish.