Ray Clarke - a Profile...

• Born in Sydney, not quite a baby boomer.

• Father’s side arrived Australia per courtesy of a young convict girl called Hannah in 1810. (Read the historical novel Hannah)

• Mother’s side arrived Australia 1882 per courtesy of a 22 year old Irishman seeking his fortune away from the hardships of Erin. He was later killed in a gold mine at Charters Towers.

• Educated in Brisbane at one of the great public schools per courtesy of my parents who worked hard and went without to send me there.

• Became apprentice to a pharmacist for two years but left before graduation (my mother never forgave me) to join the Army for nine years.

• Five years with a leading electronic manufacturer as a department manager followed by nineteen years with the Australian Government as a Senior Technical Officer (Radar). Travelled extensively throughout Australia, New Guinea and South East Asia.

• Ten years with a leading telecommunication company as a Senior Technical Officer in charge of top-level maintenance.

• On Retirement: Travel ─ metal detecting for gold ─ and finally my great passion: CREATIVE WRITING.

LOOKING BACK, I believe the many vivid memories of people, places and events ─ and the experiences associated with them ─ form the catalyst and motivation for my writing, and the style evident in my novels and articles.