Born in 1943, Barry grew up on an apple orchard in the rural community of Red Hill, Victoria Australia. He has had a chequered career: primary school teacher, technical school teacher, part-time soldier, apple orchardist, truck driver, factory worker, film-maker, teacher of the deaf, small business owner, lecturer, husband, father and grandfather and whippet owner. With Pat, he spent eleven years living in Vietnam managing an aid project aimed at developing education for the Deaf. Over the years he has dabbled in a range of activities including gardening, motorcycling, photography, writing and cooking. He currently spends most of his time writing.