Alumni Profiles

John GREGS

• Graduated :

  1973

Description

Born in Hobart in1950, and after schooling commenced my first job in Jan 68 with Department of Lands and Surveys as a Junior Photogrammetrist. I was in the CMF from 1970 to 1972 – started as a truck driver and then graduated as a 2LT in Dec 72.

My second job started on 10 Jan 13 when I enlisted in the ARA and went to OCS. After graduating into Ra Svy I undertook a Bachelor of Applied Science (Surveying) at RMIT Melbourne from 1974-76. What followed was a very enjoyable and rewarding career in the Survey Corps, and then the Engineers Corps after they disbanded Survey. I was fortunate to be involved in survey and mapping operations in Australia, Indonesia, Fiji and Tonga, and had a 12 month posting in England in 1986 and then 3-years in PNG from 1991-93.

I resigned from the Army in Sep 02 and started my third and current job, which is a science advice and liaison role with the Defence Science and Technology Organisation. Interesting to say the least as first I was working with the Intelligence community and now I work with the Defence Materiel Organisation.

I have been working in Canberra since 1994 when I returned from PNG. I lived in Canberra until Nov 02 when I brought a small 60 acre lifestyle farm 16 km north of Yass NSW. It is 80 km from home to the office, and I normally catch a bus to and from Yass – fortunately I like reading as I get through a large number of books in a year. We have run ewes and lambs and also steers for fattening, but currently we are agisting some neighbour’s sheep as the farm is on the market and I plan to retire about mid-2014. The next phase of my life will start at Narooma on the NSW far south coast as we have had a house there for a few years. After a few years there we will probably head further north somewhere.

On the home front I have been married twice and have 3 children and 3 grandchildren. There are 2 more grandchildren on the way. I have finally settled down though and have been with my lovely partner Megan for 15 years.

I am looking forward very much to renewing acquaintances at the reunion and sharing a few beers and” great coats on, great coats off” stories – be they tall or otherwise.