Born in 1945 in the rural town of Gisborne, New Zealand, Ivan was educated initially at Ngatapa School. He was immediately smitten by the power of the written word, embracing it to write poetry almost as soon as he could pen words competently. From such beginnings he become a prolific reader and enthusiastic, if somewhat erratic, writer. He completed secondary education at Gisborne Boys High School where he won awards for creative writing and attended Ardmore Teachers Training College gaining a teaching qualification in 1964. Against the developing backdrop of the Vietnam war he taught for a brief period before resigning to join the Army in 1967.
During early military service Ivan juggled marriage with frequent postings, training and duties as a junior regimental officer plus the commencement of an extra-mural Arts degree. Granted a Military study award he completed the final year at Victoria University of Wellington in 1975. He served for 21 years, taking his release as Director of Army Personnel in 1988.
Ivan and family relocated to Sydney, Australia in 1989 where he worked variously as a personnel manager, consultant and contractor until 1996. He subsequently moved to Queensland to establish a business as an avocado grower on the Sunshine Coast hinterland. He currenly lives and writes in Peachester.
Although Ivan never published he has had one act plays performed in amateur theatre. With time on his hands these days he has been able to re-indulge in his enduring passion of poetry. His current ‘poem a day’ regime will continue while the passion burns and the arthritis allows…
