This is my story ! Both parents are Austrian Born and immigrated to Australia, I am the second eldest in a family of 4 children. I was born in NSW (Which I don't like to admit, as I am a Maroon through and through). I had some early childhood living in Brisbane and Austria before we moved to Mt Isa where I started school. I was kept back a grade in my first year of school in Australia due to my inability to speak English. I completed grades 1 through 10 in Mt Isa after which I began my working career. At age 16 (1989) I left school , and started full time work at Joe's Cycles "bicycle shop" where I had worked for the previous few years, after school, Saturdays and on school holidays. Completing repairs, new builds and customer sales. At age 19 (1992) I left Mt Isa and moved to Mackay where I gained employment with the Coca Cola Company carrying out warehouse, forklift and truck delivery duties. At age 21 (1994) the fun and money was depleted so I relocated back to Mt Isa........ Employment was gained at MIM Holdings limited at the Copper Smelter - with experiences gained in copper smelting, loader, excavator and crane operating. At Age 24 (1997) I started a Diesel Fitter Apprenticeship with the Caterpillar Dealer (Hastings Deering). I completed 10 years service for the dealership - 9 years in Mt Isa - roles including apprentice and tradesman fitter, leading hand, service advisor, Product Support Representative and Product Support Manager and 1 year at Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea as Service Manager.

At age 34 (2007) I decided it was time to venture into the real world so I resigned from my employment and started SMH Equipment Pty Ltd. That was now 12 years ago.