Born in the early 1920s, 'Macted' could recall the hardships of the Great Depression. A former Victorian, he joined the AIF (2/2nd, A.I.Bn., 6 Div.) during the Second World War and served in New Guinea.
'Macted' met Lillian during the war. They married and raised a family in the small town of El-Arish in north Queensland. 'Macted' worked as a timber truck driver and cutting cord-wood until the couple got a cane assignment in the 1960s. 'Macted' worked for almost twenty years as a cane farmer.
In retirement 'Macted' wrote poetry and short stories with powerful plots.