Edward Foulston

For Transparent Government and Fiscal Responsibility

personal history

I was born in England on the 25 June 1953, Birmingham, England. I attended Blakesley Hall Primary School, passed the 11+ and received a scholarship to Yardley Grammar School. I played Rugby Union at school and competed in inter-school gymnastics.

 

My family immigrated to Australia in 1968 where I attended Dandenong High School.

I joined the Army as an apprentice Radio Mechanic in January 1970 and served for 21 years before retiring in July 1991 as a Warrant Officer. During my time in the army I trained as an electronics technician and promotion courses gave me the opportunity to receive training in fleet and human resource management. I also qualified as a teacher whilst posted as a trade teacher at the Army Apprentice School, Bonegilla.

 

I continued teaching when I left the army first with Wodonga TAFE and then with RMIT. During this period of time I qualified as a Massage Therapist, I continued my studies in massage and obtained a Diploma of Remedial Therapies, then a Diploma of Sports Massage and also a Diploma of Health (Remedial Massage). I completed post graduate studies at the AIS and volunteered at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics which I found to be one of life's most wonderful and rewarding experiences. I currently work as a Soft Tissue Therapist in my clinic on Stanley St.

 

I met my wife at school in Sept 1969, fortunately for me my teachers believed that I could achieve more with extra tuition so kindly volunteered to assist me after normal school hours, it was after one of those extra study periods that I first saw Margaret, riding her horse in the park near to where I lived, I asked my friend Rohan, who had also been getting extra tuition if he new her and could arrange a meet. The rest is history, we married in 1974 and have three children, 2 boys and a girl and three grandchildren, 2 girls and a boy.

 

Sport was a big part of Army life, it was used for team building as well as fitness and sport was also used for public relations with the Army providing teams in a variety of civilian competitions. As I had played rugby union from the age of 11, that was my main sporting interest in the Army. I not only played but also qualified as a coach and referee. When posted to Adelaide I coached the SA U17 rugby side undefeated. When I retired from the army I continued coaching and playing at the Army Apprentice School before taking up a role as the club coach at the Albury Wodonga Steamers. I became the Riverina Rugby Union Development Officer for NSW Waratahs, a position I held for three years. I introduced Rugby Union to over 3,000 children at primary and secondary schools from Tumut to West Wyalong and down through Hay, Deniliquin and Griffith and places in between. I also ran Level 1 coaching courses with a total of over 100 participants. I also conducted in service courses for teachers to continue coaching Walla Rugby at their schools. I eventually retired from rugby aged 43. I have also played competitive Squash, Australian Rules, Soccer, Basketball, Darts and Volleyball whilst on various postings.

 

I became involved with other sports as my children grew up, I was a Throws coach and officiated at Wodonga Little Athletics Club and after retiring from Rugby followed my children and started playing Hockey. I played for three local clubs at different times (Wodonga, SS and A and NASC), and coached at two of these clubs (Wodonga and NASC). I joined the Committee's of Management at Wodonga and NASC. I am a qualified Umpire and officiated in hockey and also served on the Board of Management as the Umpire's Director.

 

In addition to my sporting activities I am currently involved with the Birallee Park Neighborhood House where I tutor 'Scardy Cats Guide to Digital Photography' and 'Scanning' and also maintain their Electronic and Information Technology equipment.