David grew up in Goondiwindi, QLD where his father (Ralph) was a rural vet. He spent a lot of time doing calls with Ralph and has wanted to be a vet since he was a toddler. He was also a keen horse rider as a child.

His family moved to Perth when Ralph became a founding Professor at Murdoch University Veterinary School. David attended high school in Perth and then onto Murdoch University after deferring for a year and travelling overseas.

David graduated in 1987 and headed to South Australia where he worked in a mixed practice in the Adelaide hills and in the Adelaide Emergency Centre.

He returned to the West in 1990 when he married Nicole and headed for Esperance. They founded Swans Veterinary Services in 1992 and the practice has gone on to be a large multi award winning practice, one of the biggest in WA.

David is passionate about the veterinary industry, the rural industry, and the wider Esperance Community. He is a member of dozens of professional organizations and has sat on many committees, chairing a few. He has helped train hundreds of students over the years and has been awarded Adjunct Clinical Teacher status at Murdoch University College of Veterinary Medicine for services to Vocational Training of Murdoch Veterinary Students.

David & Nicole have 3 beautiful girls (2 who are vets), and now a much loved grandchild.

Outside of Family & Veterinary work, David is a keen yachtsman, fisherman, diver & adventurer. He is the immediate past Commodore of the Esperance Bay Yacht Club, & also finds time to run a cattle farm.