About Mike

Mike was born in Pinjarra WA (a long time ago), with most of his childhood being spent in Crystal Brook near the Flinders Ranges in SA.  He attended the Salesian College in Port Pirie and then Port Pirie High School, where he first found bush poetry.  He subsequently enjoyed a career as an accountant, business manager and company director.  Mike has been an active volunteer in community groups including several poetry performance and writing groups, Wattle Day Association, Paddington Probus, CPA Australia, St Vincent de Paul Queensland, Open Minds Australia, the Boy Scouts, amongst others.

Poetry

Bush poetry was always a poor second as an interest during Mike’s business career.  However, on retirement he returned in a passionate way to poetry.  He joined the North Pine Bush Poets Club and the Logan Performance Bush Poets Club in Queensland.  He then attended courses at the Queensland University of Technology and Griffith University in poetics and poetry appreciation.  Mike now reads, writes and recites a wide variety of poetry, including bush poetry.

Mike’s aim when writing poetry is to create a moment of joy, humour or other emotions for his readers.

When reciting poetry Mike is always keen to entertain the audience and to ensure that the audience feels more relaxed and happy at that point in their day.

Wattle

Through his association as a Board Member of Open Minds Australia, Mike’s interest in wattle and all that it means to Australia was reinvigorated.  On retirement, Mike adopted the title Wattle Wag of Queensland.  In that role he coordinates wattle day celebration activities in Queensland, conducts Wattle Bloom Walks in the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens in Brisbane, delivers talks to community groups about Australia’s symbols and the importance of wattle.  He is a member of the Wattle Day Association Management Committee.

Awards

In January 2018 Mike was awarded the Brisbane Lord Mayors Australia Day Certificate of Achievement for his contribution to several community groups and mental health services.