Ron grew up in Acacia Ridge.  Jean came from Kyogle where her parents were farmers.  They have three children and seven grand-children.  In December 1972, Ron became the accountant at Mornington Island, one of the Church's missions in the Gulf of Carpentaria.  He helped the church elders in sermon preparation and helped in the Sunday School.  In 1978, Ron and Jean moved, with their family, to Cairns where they became actively involved in the church.  Ron has been an elder there for over 20 years.  He was appointed as Assistant Minister of the Cairns Presbyterian Church .  This involved a pastoral ministry in the local church as well as a specialised ministry to Aboriginal people living in Cairns and on Cape York.

The first patrol, from Cairns to Cape York was made in June 1993.  Since that time, Ron and Jean have averaged four patrols per year between the dry months of June and December.  Since August this year (2000) with the purchase of a house in Weipa, they have been able to stay for longer periods and minister more effectively to the communities of the Cape.

Their ministry is a joint venture involving both the Queensland Home Mission Committee and the Australian Presbyterian World Mission (APWM).