I was born at Mannum on South Australia's River Murray, the ninth of eleven children.    During my teen years I completed a St. Johns Ambulance course, as my Dad was the only first aider in the district and all the locals came to him for medical assistance, for themselves and their animals. I was always nosing around Dad's feet, watching him in action and taking everything in.

Seeing any person or any animal in pain really got to me and one of my first recollections is of a pelican stranded in a swamp with a broken wing. I transported it home, arranged pieces of wood in splints and then encased the wing with a plaster of paris bandage. I nursed it at home for the next month and received a great thrill to see it fly off after its very frustrating convalescence was completed. Galahs and magpies were regular patients as they were the constant target of the local kids and their shanghais!

A pet dog suffered a broken leg and I enlisted the aid of a friend to give the anaesthetic. We borrowed some industrial ether that was used at the time to start tractors - and by the time we had the dog 'under', we were almost 'under' ourselves! In time our heads cleared and we administered the treatment and the pet duly recovered from his broken leg. We were pleased with the outcome and especially the fact that the dog did not even limp.

I studied anatomy at home with the help of Alexander's Anatomy and later Gray's Anatomy, but there was still a very 'Grey' area concerning injury to muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

I then studied Medical and Veterinary books, where I improved my knowledge on anatomy and physiology, which has served me well in my method of muscle therapy.

I was always nosing around Dad's feet, watching him in action and taking everything in.

By the time we had the dog 'under' we were almost 'under' ourselves!

As far back as the 1950's even before I ceased playing football myself, I was a trainer for football clubs. I started with the senior colts at 11 am then the reserves and finally the A Grade, all in the one day.

It gave me ample opportunity to deal with sporting injuries, especially in a town that was situated some 60 km from the nearest doctor. The players expected to receive treatment for all their injuries and I was expected to know how to deal with each one. I t was very frustrating, because I did not know how to treat some of them.

One day a player went down with a bad knee injury. His cartilage had slipped out and he was unable to straighten his leg. After warning him that it may hurt a bit I treated his knee and he gained instant relief from what he said was excruciating pain. He was back training the following Tuesday and played the following weekend - it was then I knew I was on the right track.

The main aims of any person involved in the treatment of injuries involving muscles, ligaments, nerves, cords, and tendons are as follows:

* Relieving pain and suffering as soon as
      possible.

* Correcting the alignment of damaged or
      torn tissues.

* Giving appropriate advice for exercising
      the injury.

* Getting the sports person or animal back
       into training, free from their injuries at
       the  earliest possible date.

With the above fore most in my mind I set out to teach myself as much as I possibly could about anatomy, physiology and treatments.

The players expected to receive treatment for all their injuries and I was expected to know how to deal with each one.