Tony Read was born in Auburn in the Clare Valley South Australia longer ago than he cares to think about. He attended school in the area together with many who were to become known winemakers.

His earlier love of aircraft saw him join the RAAF and was stationed in different parts of Australia and the UK where he studied and specialised in analogue navigational computers. He married and settled in Melbourne where his four children were born.

Computing was at its infancy and when he left the Air Force, he used his knowledge to join Control Data Corp the manufacture of the then super computers. Digital Equipment followed and extensive training in the US. A time at the AGE was spent in investigating the role of computing in copy processing in the US.

In 1978 he formed his own computer engineering company which he successfully ran for 30 years until its sale.

Retirement lasted no time at all as he used his passion for flying to establish, with his wife Angela, Aussie Flyaways a flying Safari business operating primarily in the outback of Australia and the Pacific. This was a great time and continued for many years until a medical event made it difficult.

Flying is in his blood and he had owned several aircraft. He has been building a very fast aircraft for the past 11 years and hoorah it is very close to completion. Restoring and driving classic cars and motorcycles is another of his passions.

Tony was a charter member and president of The Rotary Club of Keysborough, charter member and president of the Rotary Club of Beaumaris and was part of the group that started the Probus Club of Beaumaris.

Tony and Angela have 6 children and 8 grandchildren between them scattered in various places in Australia and the world.

They are both keen golfers at VGC and Tony plays tennis regularly as well as travelling, camping, fishing, and walking their Bernese Mountain dog Monte.