About me…

Wow, where do you start without boring people?

37 years of age as of June 8 – can’t say I ever considered being 37 one day but that’s life isn’t it, particularly when you have four beautiful little energetic sons who seem to have all their feet on your accelerator at once!

I’m a proud West Aussie and West Coast Eagles fan – I’m still living in the glory days of 1992 and 1994 much to the annoyance of my friends who live in Geelong.

I’m a huge KISS fan, not just of their music but also certainly of the way that they present ‘a show’.
 

I’ve always loved that philosophy – put on a show, make it an ‘event’ not just a concert.

I’m like that with my announcing and event promotion – make it BIG.

Perception is more important than reality to spectators at a live event, in my opinion anyway.

I took my 8-year-old son Liam to see KISS a couple of months ago and he was blown away. You know you have a great product when an 8 year old can sit through a two-hour concert!

My boys are into WWE wrestling big time, and I love the fact that they too appreciate a good show.

I can really appreciate the effort that goes into the whole show – scripting, acrobatics, good guys and bad guys etc.

It’s no wonder it’s a massive, massive sport worldwide.

People want to be ENTERTAINED.

I’m obsessed with America – I’ve always felt an amazing connection with the USA and have travelled extensively throughout the country, as a result I have some lifelong friends in Ohio, Mississippi, Tennessee, Iowa and many other states as well.
I’d still like to call America ‘unfinished business’ because there’s a lot I still want to do there – particularly as the ‘Aussie way’ of doing things is immensely popular in the entertainment medium and I believe that dirt track racing in particular could be revolutionised with some new energy and a fresh approach.

I love sport.
I LOVE Music.
I love my wife and kids and can’t imagine my life without them.
I love travelling – lucky thing that because I’m always doing it.
I cherish my friends – I’m so lucky to have so many loyal and wonderful friends.
I’m very proud of my bud Adam Brand – I sincerely hope that he’s able to one day crack the USA market and get out of this miniscule Australian country music market.
I love commentating the V8 Utes and the Monster Trucks.
I love watching Speedway and always have.

I’m so proud of my 92-year-old Nanna – she’s one of the people who got me into Speedway as an infant!

My mate Jason Tickle from South Australia also has plenty of responsibility for how I got into writing articles as a then 15 year old reporting on Claremont Speedway events.

My Dad was in the Air Force for 20 plus years, so I’ve had a pretty transient life that only the Defence Forces can bring.

0-6yrs
Lived in Mt. Yokine WA
6-8yrs
Lived in Werribee, Point Cook and Laverton, VIC
8-10yrs
Lived in Penang, Malaysia whilst Dad was stationed at Butterworth Air Force Base

10-15yrs
Lived in Lyndoch, South Australia. Attended the mighty Lyndoch Primary School and then Nuriootpa Senior High School until the end of Year 9. Left to move interstate once more after that, wasting all that amazing German I learned at school. Yeah right.

14-15yrs
Lived ‘on base’ at the RAAF Base Pearce and attended Bullsbrook High School for a short time in Year 10.

15-16yrs
Lived in Parkerville, WA. Attended Eastern Hills Senior High School in Mt Helena. Shortly thereafter moved to Broome WA for six months for an ‘attitude adjustment’ after growing a little too big for my boots (Sorry Mum) and being ‘moved’ to Aunty Bev and Uncle John’s place. I worked at “Big Rooster” as a cashier and learned quickly that school isn’t as bad as people make it out to be. Moved back to Parkerville briefly to recommence Year 11.

16-17yrs
Lived in Bullsbrook with my Dad but still drove the 45 mins to Eastern Hills High School in Dad’s awesome little Volkswagen. Worked at Hungry Jacks Midland at night after school to make money.

18-20yrs
Worked at CJ Young’s Electrical Supplies in Bayswater as a courier – that was a cool job, and Hungry Jacks at night. Never did have a problem with working hard. Some times I’d work at Midland HJ’s during the day and then HJ’s Beechboro at night. Made some fantastic friends during this period including Teena Boughton, Domenic, Vince, Darren Jenkins, Shannon, Terri Mann, Katrina Paice, Jodie, Kerry Boughton, Teng Cheah and so many other great people. It was a great experience working at HJ’s and I recommend it to anyone. For the team building, dealing with the public and the social aspect.

21-25yrs
Lived with Craig Nylander in Jolimont during some ‘formative party years’ and had a fantastic time with someone I regard as a big brother and great friend that I’ve learned a lot from. Brad “Fat Rat” Steele was and still is a great friend who constantly looks after me and helps out whenever he can. I think I’m the little brother Ratty never had! Brad and I owned a video company called “Rapid Images” that filmed Speedway and we were based in Brad’s house in Tuart Hill with Brad’s Mum Joan overseeing us. Brad did all the work, I did the commentary (wow, that was hard..not) and Brad definitely got the rough end of the stick on that one.

 
I also moved in with one of the nicest people on the planet in Donna ‘Nugget’ Robinson in her immaculate place in Dianella. “Nugget” is/was a fantastic cook, a great friend and man does she keep the place clean! Donna remains as one of my favourite people on the planet and was always a great leveller for me. I really miss her friendship.
During this time I realised my childhood dream of working at Claremont Speedway as sales and marketing/program editor/announcer and assistant to Promoter Con Migro. This was and still is one of my greatest thrills. I miss Claremont Speedway badly.

26yrs
I moved to Findlay, Ohio USA for 6 months promoting Flag City Motorsports Park (Speedway) and doing everything there imaginable, including watering the track. It remains as one of the single greatest experiences of my life for many good and bad reasons. It was hard, it was scary, it was insane at times but the life experience it gave me was exceptional. I came away from that phase of my life with some outstanding friends whom I am lucky to still call mates to this day. Rob and Dianna Liaeff, Jim and Kelly Dunham, Tim and Pat Fazig, Eric Siewert, Jay, Butch Schroeder, Lori Taylor and so many wonderful people.

27yrs
Moved back to Western Australia where I stayed for 6 months working for Bunbury Speedway (thanks Des Ferris, Alan and Noelene Blake) before being offered a job at Parramatta Speedway by then promoter David Lander. Never wanted to live in Sydney and the traffic when I got there confirmed it. None the less it was to wind up as the most significant move I have ever made as a year later I met my wife and would eventually help to create our incredible little brood of boys – Liam, Riley, Connor and Darcy Aunger.

37yrs
Fast-forward ten years and I’m a lucky man. Travelling Australia announcing what I love, meeting incredible people and having my amazing little (big) family support me in whatever I do.
My Dad lives in Raymond Terrace, not far from me with his wife Jan. Dad has retired now and works on his passion of remote control aeroplanes and following me around whenever he can.
My Mum lives in Broome in WA, working with the indigenous people of the Kimberley and living her dream.
My little sister Lisa is now back in WA with my two awesome nephews Jacob and Logan and my beautiful niece Jamie.
I’ve clocked up 11 years as an announcer at AVE and commentated everything from Volleyball (indoors and beach) to motor racing.
I was even privileged to announce for TV the last motor race that Peter Brock ever competed in – the Targa Rally in WA.
Life is full, busy and flat out.

It’s dotted with amazing friends, wonderful family, and hundreds of hugs from my wife and little boys.

Oh, and the occasional sound of racecars in the distance…