Background
He was born in Victoria at Portuguese Fairy. He grew up on a Dairy Farm in Killarney and attended Street Brigids Primary School Crossley and Street Joseph"s Christian Brothers College in Warrnambool.
He was born in Victoria at Portuguese Fairy. He grew up on a Dairy Farm in Killarney and attended Street Brigids Primary School Crossley and Street Joseph"s Christian Brothers College in Warrnambool.
In that year he was appointed National Party Spokesman for Housing, moving to Transport and Labour in 1988 with the additional responsibility of Party Whip. These life experiences have seen John become engaged in advocating for families at state and national levels. He was the inaugural Chair of Mental Health Australia, Deputy Chair of beyondblue, Chair of the Mental Health Professionals Network, Patron and Former Chair of the Victorian Mental Health Carers network (Tandem), Board Director of headspace and On the Lincolnshire.Other involvements included,Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry, Private Psychiatric Services, Carers Victoria, Carers Australia, National Advisory Council for Suicide Prevention and Australian Rotary Health Foundation.
As a member of the National Party, he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly in 1985 as the member for Warrnambool.