From Newspapers to Copilot

How a Country Boy from Wedderburn Witnessed Australia's Technology Revolution

I grew up in Wedderburn, a small country town in Victoria. My first job was delivering newspapers. From the age of eleven, I rode my bicycle through the streets before school each morning, dropping the daily news at homes across the community.

When I joined a bank in 1983, transactions were recorded by hand on account cards, ledgers were maintained manually, cash was counted by hand, and telephones relied on copper wires. Banking was still largely paper-based, and computers were only beginning to appear in the workplace.

A few years later, I found myself helping introduce computer systems across Victoria, loading software onto floppy disks, supporting installations, and training people who had never used a computer before. What seemed revolutionary at the time would soon become everyday business.

Over the next four decades, I was fortunate to work through some of Australia's most significant advances in communications and information technology. My career included roles with Telstra, NBN Co, AGL, Toll Group, NEC Australia, Services Australia, Victorian Government agencies, universities, and emergency services organisations.

Along the way, I witnessed the emergence of personal computing, mobile networks, the internet, fibre communications, wireless services, cloud platforms, cyber security, and artificial intelligence.

One of the largest portfolios I managed involved Whole of Victorian Government contracts supporting laptops, desktop computers, printers and data centre services across multiple departments and agencies.

After spending much of my career helping organisations adopt new systems and ways of working, I founded Rare & Ready Gifts, an Australian e-commerce business powered by Shopify, digital marketing, analytics, cloud platforms, and AI.

People often ask me what the biggest change has been during my lifetime.

My answer is simple:

In one lifetime, we have moved from paper to paperless, from fixed line phones to satellites, and from newspapers to Copilot.

The tools have changed dramatically, but the most essential element has remained the same.

People.

Whether it is a handwritten ledger, a mobile phone, an online store or an AI-powered assistant, innovation is about helping people connect, communicate, and share experiences.

In 2026, I watched the Wedderburn Football Club play in a grand final on my laptop, streamed wirelessly to a smart television. After the final siren, I sent a text message to the club president congratulating the team on its premiership. Minutes later, a reply appeared on my phone.

When I was delivering newspapers through the streets of Wedderburn, none of those technologies existed.
The town was still there.

The football club was still there.
The people were still there.
Only the way we connected had changed.
For most of my working life, I simply happened to be there when it happened.

In 2000 at Telstra, I also completed the contract renewal for our Telstra Alcatel landline telephone. Who would have thought that something once so essential would now be virtually non-existent?

Three Rare & Ready Gifts Inspired by This Journey

Golden Triangle Gift Hamper, Central Victoria
A celebration of the makers, flavours, and heritage of Victoria's historic Goldfield’s region, where my story began.

Elite Writing Gift Set Hamper
From handwritten ledgers and account cards to laptops and AI, communication has remained at the heart of every technological transformation.

Bialetti Moka Pot & Coffee Gift Set
Great ideas, lasting relationships, and successful projects often begin with a conversation over coffee.