Bill Kearns, also known as the 'Master of Bull', was born on a dairy farm in the Ulmarra district on the Clarence River, and he spent his childhood there during the 1950s. He worked in a variety of occupations including draughtsman, land inspector, industrial cleaner, mail contractor and hospital wardsman. His bush poetry has been read on ABC radio, and he has regularly performed his poetry at charity events and at festivals including the Tamworth Country Music Festival and the Gympie Muster.