He studied Zoology at the Australian National University and learned to climb at climbing crags in the Australian Capital Territory, most notably Booroomba Rocks (where he pioneered a number of classic routes).
hiː stˈʌdid zuːˈɑːlədʒi æt ðɪ ɔːstɹˈeɪliən nˈæʃənəl jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ænd lˈɜːnd tə klˈaɪm æt klˈaɪmɪŋ kɹˈæɡz ɪnðɪ ɔːstɹˈeɪliən kˈæpɪɾəl tˈɛɹɪtˌoːɹi, mˈoʊst nˈoʊɾəbli boːɹˈuːmbɚ ɹˈɑːks wˌɛɹ hiː paɪənˈɪɹd ɐ nˈʌmbɚɹ ʌv klˈæsɪk ɹˈaʊts.