After finishing high school in Ballarat, Victoria in 1983, John took an Electrical Engineering course at Ballarat University. Part of this course required that he spend a minimum of 8 weeks working in a related field for work experience, and this is when he ended up in Papau New Guinea for 9 weeks one summer and got to know the Bonds.

In early 1988 he answered an advertisement for a small Christian band which wanted musicians, he played saxophone, and this is where he met Maree, a singer in the band.

He lived in Greelong and worked at the Ford Motor Company for almost 3 years and then transferred to the Ford Plastics Plant in Melbourne. The plant was sold to Venture Industries, a privately owned Detroit based company, in July of 1995, so he now works for Venture Industries, in the same capacity, as an Electrical Engineer.

Maree left school in 1985 and began working as a Sales Assistant in Ballarat. She continued to work for the same store chain and worked her way up to Assistant Manager. She transferred to Greelong in 1989 but gave up working in 1992 due to prolonged ill health.

She started singing when she was 16, making her first solo performance at her brother's wedding. Shortly after that she began singing lessons, which she continued for 4 years. Her répertoire has included church activities and weddings, a Christian musical, a secular cabaret band and singing at funerals. John sometimes accompanies Maree's performances.

John and Maree became the GRO Australian Representatives in 1995.

                  Michael Bond » President » Board Member » profile
                  Joyce Bond » Secretary Treasurer » Board Member » profile
                  Virgil and Ruth Rasmussen » Vice President » Board Member » profile
                  Barry and Marge Ellis » Board Member » profile
                  John and Maree Shaw » Australian Representatives » profile
                  Michael Boyle » Board Member » profile
                  Bill and Robin Goss » Board Member » profile
                  Darin and Jennifer Leonard » Board Member » profile
                  John and Ruth Lucas » Canadian Representative » profile
                  Pauline Pennock » profile

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