Married with two daughters and two granddaughters, Gary served in the Royal Australian Navy from the age of 15 as a Naval Shipwright apprenticeship. On completion of his four years training he served aboard the fast troop transport, HMAS Sydney, on deployments to Vietnam in 1969 & 1970. A life member of the Australian Parachute Federation (APF) Worked as an Instructor, Master Instructor, Instructor Examiner, Director Instructors, Director Safety and National Training Manager until retiring in 2014. During his 40+ years in skydiving competed in State, National and International competitions with various levels of success. Also the Co-founder of Tasmania's world famous, award winning Eaglehawk Dive Centre Logging more than 5000 hours underwater as a professional and recreational diver. Since retiring in 2014 has traveled with his wife Trish to the US, Europe, Asia & outback Australia.