'Paul Abbott was born in England, and migrated to Australia with his family at the age of nine, enduring six long weeks of debilitating sea-sickness in the process. Since arriving he has lived in Tasmania, with brief forays interstate and overseas. Paul obtained a BA in languages from the University of Tasmania in 1972 and has since enjoyed several careers (teaching English and modern languages, PR for the Education Department of Tasmania, and in a variety of both front-line and managerial positions in youth support work, employment services and vocational education. '