Last 
19 May, 2008
Hi
my name is John Scatchard, and the following page is a little insight into
myself and my family.
I was born in Brisbane (Australia). I have two beautiful sisters (Karen and Sally) and a Brother (Allan), who is a great mate. I guess you could call our family a very multi cultural one, as we were all born in different parts of the world. This was due to my Dad serving in the Australian Army. My Mother was born in Wynyard (Tas), Dad in Somerbridge, Yorkshire (UK), Karen in Tieping, (Malaysia), Sally in Wynyard (Tas), Allan in Pudsey (UK) and I said earlier I was born in wonderful sunny Queensland.
If you are wondering, yes, we do have a little fun when the cricket
is
on, especially the 'Ashes Series'. Although my Dad is a naturalised Australian
these days, I'm sure he still has a soft spot for the Poms. As you can see
from the various birth places of the family I have travelled considerably.
We have lived in a number of beautiful countries including Malaysia, Singapore,
England and South Africa. Unfortunately for me the travel bug is
hereditary and travelled considerably in my pre-marriage days around Australia,
living in Western Australia and my native state of Queensland on the Gold Coast.
After and during my school days I did a lot of surfing, hence the need to travel around Australia's coastline
looking for the elusive perfect wave.
On the matrim
onial side of
things, I had 10 years of married life, which unfortunately ended in divorce 12
years ago and I am still single. Thankfully the marriage blessed us with three
beautiful children. Mitchell (21), Nathan (19) and Hollie (17).
Mitchell and I live together in Hobart, while Nathan and Hollie live with their Mum in Ridgley.
Mitchell is a Tele Communication Rigger. While Nathan is a 2nd year building
apprentice and Hollie is in grade 11 at Hellyer College. Mitchell's
doesn't play much squash these days, due to his work. But his passion for squash
in his younger years saw him have excellent results, ranked number one in
Tasmania and finished 4th at his last Australian Junior Squash Championships. Mitchell love of sport blossomed in his early
years with BMX, being the Tasmanian State Champion for his age group in
1995 and 1996. Nathan and Mitch also love playing Soccer, (I
used to coach Mitchell's U13 team), and both boys are very good long distance
runners. Nathan used to playing
basketball,
and had a go at football and was a handy defender.
He loves his cricket and plays
'B' Grade for Ridgley. He recently purchased a
4 wheeler which he races. Hollie still loves to dance but is not
playing any sport at the
present time. I too love my soccer and
competed with the Somerset Sharks Thirds team for two seasons in 1999 and 2000 With our team winning the thirds division for the 2000 season
(winning team photo below). I have been the current State U14 girls water
polo coach for the past two years and Secretary of the Clarence Crocs Water Polo
Club.
My interest in life
include Squash, Golf, Indoor Cricket, Bush
Walking, Camping,
Photography, Surfing, Go-Cart
racing and my main addiction and passion (in
life) Fly
Fishing for the elusive wild brown trout. Most of
my Fly Fishing
takes me to some wonderful and beautiful places, such as the
pristine wilderness, and unpredictable weather of the
Central Highlands of
Tasmania. Having fished for trout during snow storms in January and
February. I have also have been fortunate and privileged enough to have
travelled twice to New Zealand (94 & 97)chasing a trophy trout (10lbs.plus), but
have not managed to land one as yet. Went very close in '97, landed a 8lber.
I have Fly Fished for 22 years and I hope to pass on my experience and
passion for the sport to my boys who have both now taken up fly fishing.
I have always
been and still am, a very keen sportsman and over the years I have been involved
in numerous clubs, I was Secretary of the Burnie Surf Lifesaving
Club (2 years,
member for 10 years), Vice President North West Fisheries Association (2 years), President Burnie Branch North West
Fisheries (4 years), Secretary North West Fly Fishers Club (1 year), State
President Tasmanian BMX Association (3 years) and the most fulfilling position I
held, Co-Coordinator of the Tasmanian Trout Fishing Championships (4 years), Vice President - Wynyard Squash Club, Secretary
and Western Schools
Soccer Association, Committee Member - Squash Tasmania and Committee Member -
Somerset Soccer Club and Minutes Secretary - L.A.K.E.S. (Leisure Anglers Keeping
Environment Serene) a small group of concerned anglers fighting commercial
helicopter flights into our beloved Western Lakes area.
As I previously said I am still heavily involved in sport, but in a different area, squash has moved over for water polo. Coaching state and club teams takes up a huge amount of time and is a massive commitment as we would on average train 4 nights a week/weekends. So I always try and get out on my boat either to the highlands or Bream fishing on the Derwent, and maybe sneak a game of golf in.
I
enjoy reading a good book, especially on cold frosty
days curled up in front of
the fire. My favourite author has to be Wilbur Smith (but as I having
lived in 
South
Africa I can relate to his stories, the places and the history
involved with his storytelling), I also enjoy reading Robert Ludlum and more
recently Dan Brown. I also collect Tasmanian Trout Books, we have
excellent authors in our state such as Rob Sloane, Greg French, Don Gilmore and
David Scholes.
My music interests are wide and varied. I love the occasional dose of Classical music (when the mood takes me), right up to today's modern music. With a young family I have found it is imperative that one keeps up with the latest music around, which I like anyway. My favourites at present are Gabriella Cilmi, Live, Corrs any Blues music. Of course Mitch has similar tastes to his Dad and a few others such as the Live, Ac/Dc, Blink 182, Lifehouse etc...
So that is a little about me and my family, hope you enjoyed the read.