Just before RIMPAC 1986, I did something that I am not too proud of! I am not sorry I did it because as the saying goes, the end justifies the means. I jumped ship to go on the television show (Perfect Match) and somehow lady luck was on my side because the lady (Randa) on the other side of the screen picked me. When the ship returned, she convinced me that it would be in everyone's best interest if I was to go back. I did, and put in my elective discharge and was posted to Kuttabul for my last 18 months. We decided that as I was no longer going to sea that we would get married, but true to form, the day after I returned from our honeymoon I was informed that I was to sail out the following Monday for 3 weeks to Western Samoa, to do C.H.O.G.M.

Anyway, when I paid off on Australia Day 1988, we moved to Newcastle and used my pay off money to start a lawn mowing business while studying Landscaping at night. We sold that two years later and migrated to Queensland to start a computer business with my brother inlaw. This business lasted 6 months and we ended up back in Sydney with a truck full of furniture and $20 in our pockets. We tried to get the lawn mowing business going again but it was hard as every man and his dog was throwing the lawnmower in the boot and cutting lawns.

In 1991, I started working casually for Reckitt & Colman Pharmaceuticals as a storeman, quickly progressed to a compounder mixing up the products. In 1994, I left there to start working at Franklins as a storeman and was promoted to Supervisor after 14 months. I left Franklins at the turn of the century and migrated to Queensland again. This time I was well prepared, I had been planning it for 2 years. I currently manage the Stores Department for Conrad Treasury Brisbane which is the casino in Brisbane, the sister property of Jupiters. Visit our website at www.conrad.com.au

Personally, I have just turned 40, have all my hair and I don't think I have changed in appearance much except for a few wrinkles; I suppose the readers of this will be the judge of that though. Randa and I have been married now for over16 years. We boast the achievement of having the first "Perfect Match Baby", our daughter Montana was born in 1988 and our son Cody was born in 1994. We live in God's country, right at the foothills of Mount Tamborine -visit my home town here www.queensland-holidays.com.au/pfm/sites/0000724/body.htm , which is 40 minutes from the Gold Coast (south) and 40 minutes from Brisbane (north).We live on 5 acres and our house is a work in progress. We plan to move and live on the Gold Coast when Montana goes to college in a couple of years, so I am hoping it will be finished by then, I'm getting too old for moving rocks around anymore.