Chris Ward was born overseas to parents who were working in the depth of the Bornean jungles with some very isolated tribes. His early years were spent in Melbourne, but the family moved to Townsville in far north Queensland in the mid 1960's, when his father took up the foundation chair in Physics at the very new James Cook University. Chris fell in love with the relaxed life in the north, playing sport, (hockey mostly), and enjoying the wild life of camping on deserted beaches north of Cairns when Port Douglas was just a jetty and few old shacks. Family holidays were often spent sailing in their small yacht around many of the tropical islands off the coast. Chris loved adventure and was a passionate reader of the great 'Biggles' books, and others of a similar style which created a sense of excitement and tension. Chris moved back to Melbourne to study, became a teacher almost by accident, and has stayed with this profession for 30 years. He co-founded a school in 1999 on 45 acres on the North West fringe of Melbourne and still works there as a counsellor, chaplain, maths teacher and Board member, enjoying the daily interaction with a population of 1200 young students and their families. Chris has played competitive sport all his life, and most recently he has found many challenges as a triathlete, wining a Victorian Age group title and placing 4th in a World Masters Games. He still sails, for a time as a member of the Royal Victorian Yacht Club, and over many years with friends chartering in the Whitsunday Islands. Chris and his wife Barbara, who is a government lawyer, have two children, Catherine and Lachlan. He happily spends most of his time with the children in support of their various interests. Chris has a great love of painting and his marine themes take up much wall space around the home. His love of storytelling resonates with the interests of his children, and the adventure themes of his youth have found new life in the person of Seaborne Morse, the wonderful character in his first published novel.
