After five years of boarding school in Perth at Wesley College and a year of law at Murdoch University, I returned home to the family farm in Corrigin in 1992. It soon became apparent to me that the economic sustainability of the farm would depend on our ability to value-add, and so in 1993 I launched Windmill Flour , a specialist stoneground flour and bread mix business. In 1998, the business received an Innovation in Agriculture Award for Excellence, and 1999 and 2000 Windmill Flour was selected to showcase its products at various expos in London, Sydney and Melbourne.

The success of Windmill Flour and my desire to provide business and tourism opportunities in Corrigin encouraged me in 2000 to open Taste of the Wheatbelt , a caf, bakery and gallery showcasing Wheatbelt products and produce.

Through my experiences with the two businesses I developed a real understanding of the many difficulties faced by small business owners. Living outside the metropolitan area also gave me an appreciation of both the benefits and disadvantages of country life. While I was constantly heartened by the community spirit and enthusiasm of Corrigin and the other towns that I visited, I was also disappointed by the steady withdrawal of services from the regions and the population drain that inevitably followed.

My first foray into politics came in the form of a position on the Corrigin Shire Council, however my time as a councillor was short-lived. The resignation of Hendy Cowan as the Member for Merredin saw me nominate for National Party pre-selection, and in November 2001 I contested and won the Merredin by-election standing as a National.

My first three years as a member of Parliament have been both challenging and enjoyable. Through my involvement in a number of key policy areas, including health, electricity, public liability, water resources and salinity, I have gained an understanding of the main issues affecting people living in country WA. I have also done my best to ensure that the interests of country West Australians are effectively represented in Parliament.

My attention has been turned to the problem of salinity and its impact on our agricultural regions. The threat that salt encroachment poses to the future viability of farmland in the Wheatbelt prompted me to develop Living Lakes 2030 , a bold plan to turn country WAs expansive salt lake system into tourism and industry opportunities that will attract people and investment to the Wheabelt. .