On 3 September 1960 he married Helen Gallagher, with whom he would have five children.
From 1971 to 1973 he sat on Newcastle City Council and he served as a member of the New South Wales Police Force, before moving to Queensland, where he became involved with the National Party.
He served one term (1986–89) as the member for Currumbin in the Queensland Legislative Assembly before he was defeated by Liberal candidate Trevor Coomber.