Martin started life in Castlemaine. His father was in partnership with his brothers making and installing plaster board (fibre board actually) for domestic dwellings. This was a time before the current paper faced plaster boards. One week was spent making the plaster board – the next week was spent installing the boards. This proved to be a ‘hard’ existence so his father joined the Railways and moved the family to Swan Hill for some 5 years before moving to Melbourne (Blackburn South) in 1961. It was at this time that a builder started erecting a new home on the block next door giving Martin the opportunity to spend his spare time ‘helping out’. This resulted in an offer from the builder of an apprenticeship – Matin was ‘rapped’ but his parents had other ideas – parents won and Martin ended up doing the commercial stream through High School. Then followed Accounting at Swinburne in Hawthorn – a Batchelor of Accounting in the first year of that course in the year that Swinburne became a university. This included majors in computing and lead to his interest in all things computing. Commuting started with bus and train till a motor bike became an option. Martin had all the gear needed even for wet weather – gear which developed a hole on the groin area (proved somewhat embarrassing on wet days). During Uni, Martin supplemented his income by working as a porter for the Railways. Plus, Saturday mornings, Marin worked on cleaning tasks in a butcher shop.

The Yamaha bike was replaced by an old FE Holden – a rebuilder’s delight. Floor pan, mudguards, doors – all got replaced and the whole thing resprayed. This was replaced by a Torana – now 60% of salary went to the finance company. The next vehicle was a green Holden Sandman – say no more.

From there, as an Accountant, it was off into the big, wide world – initially with a jeans importing company – Wrangler. Some 5 years or so later, Martin moved to a printing company in Carlton – Modern Printing Company that, in those days, made Spirax note books, envelopes, etc. but now producing a variety of wall art panels. For a change of pace, Martin moved to a real estate company – Henderson and Horning in the CBD – industrial/commercial real estate agents.

Next, Marin moved to Comeng in Dandenong – manufacturers of trams and trains. When Martin joined Comeng, they were making trams for Hong Kong which were guaranteed for a certain mileage. How to test for this mileage? Set up a circular track at the rear of the premises and run the tram around this track 24 hours a day. For trains, the delivery issue for VicRail product was solved by having a spur line from the suburban rail network right into the factory.

Martin’s next job was with Australia Post, from which, 27 years later, Martin retired. This time was spent in the Victorian (later National) Administration of AusPost. This evolved into a role which included management of their finance systems – including the installation of the SAP system (needed to overcome a millennium (Year 2000 or Y2K for short) problem with the previous system). One planned benefit of SAP failed to materialize – no customizations. Reporting was too slow so modifications were introduced. But they did have a Y2K compliant system up and running before 1/1/2000.

In 1976, in the Hatters Castle pub in Richmond, Martin turned up for a date in his Sandman (fully modified for camping… say no more…). Two years later, Robyn and Martin were married and moved to their house in Mooroolbark where Martin had many opportunities to keep up his handyman skills – timber, plaster, metalwork – the ‘whole box and dice’. Forty-four years later and after retiring, they moved to Rosebud – Waterfall Gully area. Martin and Robyn can be regularly found having morning coffee (brunch actually….) in the Waterfall Gully Nursery Café.

Also, Martin is very active around the Club where her can be found helping with modifications to the Shop, working in Toy Makers, looking after money on the BBQ’s plus turning bowls on the lathe.