Andrew was born in Melbourne and raised in Geelong before returning to Melbourne University to study Geology. After Uni, Andrew spent four months as a relieving chemist on the tiny Pacific Island Nation of Nauru. He then began work for BHP as a System Engineer in Head Office in Melbourne. During this time in Melbourne, Andrew got involved in a local church in View Bank (out near Heidelberg) and taught Sunday School and was involved in leading the youth groups.
In 1980, Andrew moved to Tasmania to manage the first computer at Temco, Bell Bay and eventually settled on 8 acres at Kayena. He met and married Louise, who was raised in Riverside, and they settled into life on the West Tamar Andrew became a Lay Reader in West Tamar and together Louise and Andrew were involved in youth ministry, particularly Camping with SU and the Presbyterian church. At this time, Andrew and Louise studied in the Evening Bible School at WEC and developed a strong interest in Missions. They were both involved in the 1984 Bill Newman Crusade (youth section) and also the first three GO mission conferences in Tasmania.
After the birth of Oswald in 1986, the family moved to West Africa to do two years of study at Christian Service College in Kumasi. Both Louise and Andrew studied as well as in 1988 coping with the birth of Child number 2, Esther. We had two wonderful years with the congregation of St Paul's Suntreso and were the only white people in a black church. The Bishop in Kumasi suggested that rather than Missionary Service, that Andrew should consider Ordination.
When we returned from West Africa, we joined Holy Trinity in Launceston, taking over the youth work from Robert Graue with both Andrew and Louise serving as Lay Readers. Andrew got work at the University and served as part of the Policy and Planning group during the amalgamation. In 1991, Andrew was accepted as a Tasmanian Candidate for Ordination..
In 1993, we went to St Johns College, Morpeth where Andrew completed his BD in two years. In the first year, we were part of the Singleton Congregation and the second the Maitland congregation. While in College, Andrew and Louise went to Cursillo in the Newcastle Diocese. Andrew was Ordained to the Diaconate at the end of 1994 and in 1995 commenced the first curacy with Bishop Owen Dowling at St James, New Town. At the end of 1995, Andrew was ordained Priest, and in 1996 Andrew and Owen also looked after the neighbouring Parish of St Johns, New Town.
After Bishop Owen's departure in June, Andrew assisted the Archdeacon looking after these two parishes until moving to St Johns, Launceston in 1997. In October 1998, Andrew commenced as Priest in Charge of the Cressy Parish. He has since completed his Graduate Certificate in Ministry (Church Leadership) with Sydney College of Divinity.
Louise is the Diocesan Caritas leader , on the Board of AMT and recently has become the Overseas and Outreach person for the Mothers' Union. She is a Lay Reader for the Cressy Parish and has served on Cursillo Teams for W3 and W7a. She and Andrew have started a winter camping programme at Liffey for Anglican Camping Tasmania. Rupert, Child number 3 was born in 1997.
When Andrew took up the appointment at Cressy, he continued to serve on the Christian Formation Committee, the Aboriginal Ministry Working Group and the working group advising the Continuing Ministry Formation. Andrew also serves the Cursillo movement as Newsletter Editor, and has been on team for M6, M7 and M9. He serves as a Tutor of New Testament, New Testament and Christian Worship in the Ministry Learning Network
