W.J. Peasley:

W.J. Peasley was born in the central west of New South Wales and spent his boyhood on his father's farm. There he was greatly excited by his discovery of ancient campsites of Aboriginal people who had long since disappeared from the area. He was also saddened, for this was the only evidence left of a people who had occupied the land for thousands of years.

Leaving school at the age of fourteen, he worked on the family farm and at eighteen he enlisted in the 2nd AIF and was a member of the British Commonwealth Occupation forces in Japan. After leaving the army he matriculated and studied medicine at the University of Sydney. On graduation he moved to Western Australia and for twelve years worked as a flying doctor.

Following several years in Europe he returned to Perth where he studied anthropology and continued his interest in Australian history, particularly the history of exploration, by embarking on several expeditions into the desert country, following the tracks of early explorers.

Married with four grown sons, Dr Peasley now lives in City Beach, Western Australia.