Although born in England, Hayes migrated to Australia as a child, his family spending two years in Sri Lanka, his mother's birthplace, en route. Hayes grew up in Bacchus Marsh and then began his journalism career with The Age in Melbourne. He moved to the ABC and worked successively in Melbourne, Darwin and Canberra. Having found considerable success with his 'Prickle Farm' stories, Hayes left the ABC in 1983 to become a freelance writer and video producer.
In addition to his writing, Hayes had a passion for bluegrass and country music. He played a range of instruments in his own bands and regularly opened his home for extended 'jam' sessions. Remembered for his self-deprecating humour, Hayes used the 'Prickle Farm' tales as a vehicle for highlighting human idiosyncrasy and weakness, his own included. Angry Skies, a collection of the recollections of Australian combat fliers, derived from interviews by Wing Commander Ken Llewelyn, was published after his death in 2003.
