David has spent much of his adult life alternating between his home town of Yea and the national capital, Canberra. Having grown up on the family farm in Yea and completing his secondary education at Caulfield Grammar School, he completed an Arts degree at the Australian National University in Canberra and then a Master of Arts (Qualifying Year) at the same tertiary institution with a thesis entitled "The Angry Summer: the 1932-33 MCC Tour of Australia".

After a year 'off' in 1976, David completed a Diploma of Education at Monash University (1977) and in 1978 returned to Canberra until 1992 during which time he was a senior history teacher at Canberra Grammar School. From 1984 until 1988 he was also Sportsmaster of the School and was Master in Charge of Cricket for ten years during which time he was Chairman of the Host Organising Committee for the inaugural national Schools Cricket Championship, an official 1988 Bicentenary event.

After extensive overseas travel in 1992, David left Canberra and returned to the family farm and since 2000 has assumed responsibility for its management and integrating the respected Hereford cattle breeding enterprise "Greenhills Herefords" begun in 1993 by his late sister, into the family business.

He was introduced to the world of Rotary in 1994 and became a member of the Rotary Club of Yea in June of that year. He was President of the Club in 2001-2002. His service at District level commenced shortly after when he was appointed to Chair the District Youth Exchange Committee in 2003, a position he held until 2006. In October of that year he was elected Chairman of the Australian Rotary Youth Exchange Programme Chairs' Conference (ARYEPCC) and was re-elected unopposed for a further, and final, two year term in October 2008. David constantly reminds anyone who will listen that Yea is an acronym for "Youth Exchange Australia".

David has attended all Rotary International Conventions since Brisbane in 2003 (9), all Youth Exchange Officer Pre-Convention Meetings since the same year (7), seven Australian Youth Exchange Conferences, five European Youth Exchange meetings and two New Zealand Youth Exchange meeting.

He was Assistant Governor for Clubs in Group 4 for two years, 2008-2010 and was a member of the Rotary International Youth Exchange Committee for two years, 2009-2011 being Chair of the Committee in 2009-2010.

David has been recognised with a Paul Harris Fellow by his Club (2005) and with a Sapphire Pin by the District (2006). He is a Charter Member of the District 9790 Paul Harris Society.

David was a member of the Victorian State Committee of the Queen's Trust for Young Australians from 1995 to 2000 and the Foundation for Young Australians 2001-2003. During his time he was involved in several of their programmes including grant assessments for projects benefiting young people and leadership development.

He is the only international member of the respected UK based 3000 Club whilst locally he serves with the Yea-Limestone Rural Fire Brigade and the Yea Fire Brigades Group and has been called 'the golden tonsils' for his appearances as an MC or announcer at a variety of events in Yea.

He looks forward to seeing much of the District and meeting many Rotarians in his term as District Governor in 2011-12.