John McCombe

For John McCombe the cheapest way out of Australia in 1972 was a $180 one-way fare from Fremantle to Singapore on the small Russian cruise ship, the MV Khabarosvk. That was the start of a love of low-budget international travel over four decades and five continents, and a curiosity to observe and learn from their people and cultures. Not surprisingly, he didn’t hesitate for a nanosecond when invited to join this eccentric convoy from Australia to Finland, through twelve countries and over 20,000 kilometres.

From a NSW north coast dairy farm where he grew up, John’s working life has included farm work, teaching Mathematics, union advocacy, working in the mining and finance industries, with brief stints as a builders’ labourer, a camping tour driver, a ship’s cattleman, sessional university lecturer and management consultant in between real jobs.

John is married to Marie Sellstrom and lives in the Victorian High Country.