John is a ‘bushy’ having spent much of his life working in isolated outback Australia in mineral exploration and wildlife conservation management. John always had a pocket knife handy whittling odd bits of wood in reflection of the natural shapes of the bush. Now he lives on the Sunshine Coast creating hand carved toys, utensils and sculptures. Five times place winner in the annual Dame Mary Durack Bushcraft Awards organised by the Stockmans’ Hall of Fame, John won the Grand Award in 1995.