John Basham

John Basham grew up in country Victoria in the days of kerosine refrigerators and lamps,
before electricity even came to town, or to the bush. He learned about camping from the
basics up, as boys did in those days.

John started work as a welder, before working for the Government for virtually half of his
lifetime.

He started writing and photographing for magazines about 1970. After a few years he was
producing a monthly magazine about motorcycles (and he still rides one). His bush background
helped make him fairly mechanical, and reasonably electrical, and he likes making and
modifying things. If he can work out how to fix or repair it, then he’s quite happy fiddling about.

His knowledge of caravanning and four-wheel-driving is a result of much of his lifetime spent
enjoying the bush, and travelling to out-of-the-way places, many while circumnavigating and
criss-crossing Australia with his wife Jess.

After retiring they spent almost nine years on the road in their 4wd, towing their caravan,
moving right round this great country, and talking extensively with other like-minded
individuals, looking at ‘fixes’, and dabbling in new ways of doing things. John enjoyed spending
many hours repairing things for other travellers, and making their time on the road better for
his efforts.

Always a great observer, as his books plainly show, John took great care in documenting what
he’d seen and learnt, and is really happy to be able to share this knowledge with fellow
travellers.