"The Maverick" was born in New Plymouth, New Zealand on the 20th of October 1960. He attended Mangorei, Highlands Intermediate, and New Plymouth Boys High schools before embarking on a brief "careers" as an engraver and as a farm hand.

Commencing service with the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1978, he invested 7 years of his life (to the day!) in the Avionics trade, whilst at the same time undertaking initial flight training with the Marlborough Aero Club.