Highway man shows no signs of stopping

The last known Australian swagman was passing through the Riverina this week and showing no signs of stopping.

John’s life is one of which many dream and few realise – hitting the road and never looking back – but it’s simply a case of contentment for the traveller.

“The travelling gets in your blood,” he said.

“Someone once told me that if you keep on moving for more than five years, you’ll never stop.

“At that stage I’d been walking for 10 years. Pity he didn’t tell me earlier.”

At age 22, the young Victorian had decided his clerkship wasn’t for him and told his family he was off for a three-month adventure.

Decades later, John says the life he leads is a simple one that he wouldn’t change.

“I used to pick up work in the first few years of travelling. A few odd-jobs here and there, lifting stones or labouring.

“But it was never for very long, a few days at most, and then I’d be back on the road.

“Now I’m happy just walking.”​

These days, John says, the temptations of normal life are far beyond him. 

“If I went back home, I’d have to get a licence, a house, all kinds of things,” he said. 

“I’ve done a Big Lap around Australia, and been all throughout NSW, Victoria and Queensland, but there’s still so much more I have to explore.

“I’ll keep going till the body wears out, then I’ll think about it.”