b"to the claims department after a year. He had a head for the insurance business and was good with people. He enjoyed the job and liked his workmates, and he was making a decent wage.Always seeking the next challenge, it wasnt longbefore he moved on to the Adelaide office of Swedish insurance company Skandia. He soon ran Skandias claims department, but the company closed its Australian operations. After a brief taste of insurance broking with the Harvey Trinder firm, he jumped at the chance to head up a South British United branch in Port Pirie. It was a big move for the 22-year-old, his wife Margaret and baby daughter Catherine as they left behind their home in idyllic Hope Valley in North-East Adelaide for the gritty Mid North regional town. John enjoyed his new surroundings and especially the freedom and responsibility of running a branch away from the prying eyes of bureaucratic colleagues. Pirie was a rough and tumble place at times, but it had a5down-to-earth friendliness that John loved.Back in those days, Port Pirie was a long way from Adelaide, John recalls. No computers, nothing. Just MARRIED LIFE basically a telephone exchange up there. The phones had dials, winders in the middle of them. I was on my John married Margaret Kolberg in 1968 own running my own branch. I had one girl workingat StGeorges Anglican Church in Magill. for me and we did a lot of rural insurance up there.She had a successful career in real estate sales during the early years of Johns business,Operating an insurance office from Port Pirie involved and for a time, worked in the Whittleslong stints on the road, which was no problem for business. They have two children, Paul andJohn, a lifelong car enthusiast. He drove hundreds of kilometres each week around the Mid North, visiting Catherine; six grandchildren; and a greatthe farmers, pastoralists and small business operators grandson, George. I answered to my wife andon his books. Driving four hours to see a client in the God back in those days, and I still do today, Outback, north of the state, was not unusual. It provedsays John.a demanding but rewarding training ground. Opposite (standing) John George and Above John and Margaret George sign thePaul George with Paul's children (L-R) register at St George Church, Magill, 1968.William, Sam and Edward. 2018.Image courtesy of James Grattonand The Advertiser."