The son of British migrants, Jim attended Sydney Boys’ High and Sydney Teachers’ College, taught in schools and universities in NSW and Britain, has two masters’ degrees in literature, from New England University and the University of Wales in the UK, and is the author of 33 books. Heroes, Rebels and Radicals of Convict Australia, made the top 10 best seller list for history/non-fiction. Jim currently presents three Australian history segments a week on Sydney Radio Station 2GB. A professional entertainer since 1988, he has written many songs, recorded for Festival, Sony, EMI and ABC, had a national hit with ‘Don’t Call Wagga Wagga Wagga’ and is the Australiana expert on 2GB. He was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in the Australia Day Honour's List in 2016, 'for service to the performing arts as an entertainer, author, broadcaster and historian'.