John graduated from the VSF in 1968 and Melbourne University in 1971, and postings with the FCV included Biological Survey (Phasmatids) and Bruthen and Powelltown Districts.

In 1975 he transferred to the Department of Crown Lands and Survey to work as a Regional Land Management Officer in the newly established Crown Land Management Division, which was tasked with providing land management expertise to the thousands of parcels of public land not under the control of the big three, Parks, Forests and Fisheries and Wildlife. He was also exposed to the mysteries of Crown land administration that reached back to early settlement of the colony of Victoria. Major achievements during this period included management of coastal reserves from Flinders to Seaspray, and the re-opening of the Wonthaggi State Coal Mine as a historic reserve.

1985 brought the formation of Conservation, Forests and Lands with placements initially in Historic Places Branch and then back to forestry at Powelltown.

1987 brought a major change in focus with his appointment as project manager for the development of the new Point Nepean National Park. This led to a career change for the next 20 years into project managing and procurement of new builds, upgrades and maintenance works to assets on public lands across Victoria. This work included Toolangi Forest Discovery Centre, Phillip Island Koala Conservation Centre which all led to similar roles in the NPS and in 1987 with the newly formed Parks Victoria.

With Parks Victoria John delivered maintenance and upgrade programs as well as storm and fire recovery programs for the road and track network in parks across all of Victoria. This included including reconstruction, realignments, grading, resheeting, culvert and bridge upgrade and replacement.

After a short stint in road risk policy development in DSE from 2007-2009 John resigned to provide consultant project management and procurement services to Parks Victoria and DSE/DEECA.

Parks Victoria projects included the Melbourne Bushfire Protection Program. This $5 million per year seven-year project provided strategic protection to life and property on public/private land interfaces on over 50000 hectares of parks and reserves in the Melbourne metropolitan region. Other projects included reconstruction and sealing of the Point Nepean access road, upgrade and resurfacing of the 5 kilometre fitness trail around Albert Park Lake, and construction of a fire access track network including culverts and bridges at Haining Farm, Launching Place.

DEECA procurement projects included design of replacement access boardwalk for the Ada Tree, viewing platforms for Seven Acre Rock, road realignments, culvert replacements and land slip repairs.

John’s working life finally ended in 2024.