John is first and foremost a thematic collector, enjoying the challenge of acquiring knowledge and philatelic items to illustrate his chosen themes; the most notable being "Elephantasia" which has achieved a National Large Vermeil Award (Natstamp 98).  "Cats" both domestic and wild and "Merchant Shipping" together with "Kangaroos", form his other thematic interests.  Other collecting interests are Great Britain Postal History, Aden - Ship Mail and all aspects of Norway.

Prior to the formation of the Queensland Philatelic Council, John was involved with the Philatelic Association of Queensland, the parent body for clubs in Queensland.  He served as Secretary and Treasurer in the late 1970's becoming President in 1983, an office he held until the PAQ and the Queensland Stamp Promotion Council became the Queensland Philatelic Council Inc in September 1985 - a smooth amalgamation due in no small part to John's liaison work.  He became Vice President of the new body and at the first Annual General Meeting was elected President, serving for the constituted term of two years - 1986 to 1988.

From 1992 to 1995 he served as Philatelic Development Officer of the Australian Philatelic Federation.  This office involved such projects as Archival Collections, Library Recording Scheme, APF Handbook and an Exhibiting Handbook.

He is also Archival and Library Officer for the QPC which entails research into queries from out of State and overseas. John compiled "Queensland Philatelic Society - 1921-81" and it was entered in Anpex '82 where it received a Silver Bronze Medal.  This publication was updated and completely rewritten under the title "Queensland Philatelic Society - The First Seventy Five Years 1921 - 1996" and entered into Sydney Centrepoint '95 where it again received a Silver Bronze.  He has been associated with The Queensland Stamp Collector since its inception in January 1984, when he was Distribution Manager, becoming co-editor during 1995, remaining in charge of distribution and at the AGM in September he became Editor, still in charge of distribution.  He holds this office today.  When an Editor was needed for Thematically Speaking in January 1999, John added this to his portfolio.  He writes the Editorial for both magazines.  John as been a regular guest speaker at the PSQ and society meetings in south east Queensland for many years.  His talks are always informative and at times humorous.

Together with another QPC member he organised and ran seminars at what was then known as TAFE, and jointly organised and conducted judges' training courses during 1995, 1996 and 1999; he also jointly ran an exhibitors course, for interested persons, in 1997 and 2001.

However, it is in exhibition organisation that John really shines.  He is a State and National level judge with qualifications in the Thematic and Postal History classes.  His expertise as Floor Manager and Exhibits Coordinator have been used at State and National shows in Queensland since 1981, with outstanding success.  He has served as a Commissioner for National Exhibitions here and in New Zealand, and a FIAP Exhibition.