I left school in 1969 before I had completed 3rd Form (Year 9) as I had gained a job with a plumber and after a three month trial period was given a plumbing apprenticeship. I had always been left handed as a child. The reason unclear as no medical information exists in relation to an injury that I had to my right arm prior to school age.
My mother was able to shed a little light on the subject, as she was a trained nursing sister. She related how there had been a suggestion that I may have come in contact with the poliovirus, which was prevalent at the time although she had her doubts about this. My left arm was physically stronger although there was no outward appearance or defect in my right arm.
When I took up my trade, the old time tradesman and his son were adamant there was no such thing as a left handed tradesman, so I succumbed to their wishes and became ambidextrous using my trade tools with my right hand. My trade, employment and special interest skills are all reliant on the use of both hands.
Many times throughout the years, I left plumbing and pursued driving as a living, whilst building, modifying and restoring cars. After my marriage in 1978, I returned to plumbing being employed by the son of the plumber I had started my trade with. I also attended TAFE to complete my trade course and became a journeyman plumber along with part time taxi driving that seemed to satisfy my driving desire.
The driver's license that I had showed my real interest, a Sydney Metropolitan Taxi License endorsed 5b Public Passenger. I enjoyed driving any and all types of vehicles, had a good and accident free driving record, which meant part time driving work was easily available.
On 23rd November 1981 aged 28, I commenced employment with the Department of Motor Transport (DMT) as a Driver Examiner. Conditions of my employment dictated medical fitness i.e. pass a government medical examination. I was required to surrender my public passenger licence, which had already required a medical fitness examination. I would receive this licence back should I ever leave the DMT along with a Driving Instructors License that I would qualify for on completion of my training.
For the next seven years I remained proud of and true to my position and that was no easy task, as corrupt practices in the Drivers Examiner's Branch did make the job awkward at times. Those of us who remained focused on driver safety openly discussed ways of eliminating loopholes, which allowed corrupt practices to thrive.
On 21st June 1986, my family and I moved from Sydney to the Central Coast. I remained working with the DMT as relief Driver Examiner from the District Office, Cammeray allowing me a freedom of not being bogged down or overly effected by happenings in any one Motor Registry.
My employment with the DMT was non-compulsory unionism, which allowed me the option to resign from the union. With this I was able to remain at work should the union call a strike which went against my conscience, as they often did. I had no wish to add my financial support to a union that could dictate to an employer that no action be taken against corrupt employees.
Through my training within the DMT, I was qualified to test all types of licenses from cars to articulated trucks, buses, taxis, hire cars, disability, aged driving tests and motorcycles.
During the early years with the DMT I undertook private defensive driver training and advanced driver training to better my own driving and gain a better understanding of different types of driving. Whenever possible I took the opportunity to drive heavy and articulated vehicles, so as to update and not lose my skills.
Police Driver Training and it's differences to DMT expectations caught my attention, becoming another area of interest. My enquiry's into Police Driver Training paid off with an invitation extended for me to attend the NSW Police Driver Training School at St. Ives for further discussions and practical demonstrations.
Having always been interested in policing but never having the physical stature required I had not been able to pursue this as an occupational career. With a change in criteria for entry and the maximum age being 35 years, in late 1987 application was made by myself to join the NSW Police.
Although under this age and having completed my trade course, my prior education standard meant I could not qualify or attain the relevant education standard required to join the Police Force prior to my 35th birthday.
Some time later in the positions vacant column, one particular position was bought to my attention "NSW Public Service, Instructor Driving, NSW Police Academy, Goulburn".
I requested further appropriate information from NSW Police and forwarded an application. My application was successful and an interview was arranged at Police Driver Training School (PDT) Goulburn. Although unsuccessful, I had made the short list.
With the amalgamation of the DMT and the DMR, to the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) zonings changed, this meant that when my period relieving on the Central Coast was over I would be returned to Cammeray to relieve in the metropolitan area only.
Having already applied for and in the hope that I would eventually gain a position in the NSW Police I terminated my employment with the RTA from the date I was to return to Cammeray. Events that help me make this decision have since been well documented by the ICAC Report into the Driver Examiners Branch.
I resigned effective from 6th January 1989 and was paid out on my entitlements. I immediately applied for and received my Public Passenger Vehicle and Driving Instructors Licenses after submitting the required medicals.
I had commenced major work and renovations on our property and little farm cottage for planned extensions. Part time employment was offered by the RTA Newcastle Office as relief Driver Examiner, Gosford Motor Registry and accepted. I also did part time bus and coach driving for a Central Coast based company. This job offered me the opportunity of driving multiple vehicles per day and allowed me to hone in my heavy vehicle public passenger driving skills.
Working for this bus company, meant on occasions a phone call during the middle of the day would advised I was required to drive Rail Buses. As we only had one registered vehicle that my wife would have at work, this meant I would jog approximately 3kms to the bus depot. Normally I would have already walked this distance home after the early morning school runs. They gained the contract to start the "Night Ride Service" on the North Shore. I was then employed to drive this shift, travelling home with the coach early hours of the morning to complete the shift with morning school runs.
The position of Driving Instructor for the NSW Police, Goulburn was re-advertised. I applied and my application was successful requiring a further interview and driving assessment. Weeks later a phone call from Goulburn Police Academy personnel asking if I still wanted to take up the position, with my verbal acknowledgement I was given a commencement date of 27th November, 1989. However this would be subject to me passing a further Government Medical Examination. This was to be the fifth medical examination in approximately eight years for government and private employment purposes.
