Immediate Family

While geographically apart at present, none the less my immediate family is very close, often using Internet chat and video conferencing to stay in touch with each other.

Here you can read about my parents and siblings (below), or check out some of the members of my extended family:

• Borrett Family & History — From John Borrett to now.
• Tails South — Future decided by the toss of a coin.
• Williamson Family & History — Mum's side of the family.
   

Dean and Marie Borrett — Parents

My parents and I have always had a very special relationship. They were always there for me. Much of whom I am today is simply a product of the great family environment they were instrumental in creating.

Dean and Marie Borrett 31 December 1999

Dad retired after a 46-year career with BHP. He started in 1948 as an apprentice fitter and turner at the BHP steelworks in Whyalla. Along the way he worked as a draughtsman in the drawing office at Whyalla (when I was born); qualified as a mechanical engineer via night school; and was Chief Engineer for Mt Newman Mining Co. in the first year of operation. He retired in 1994 as an international consulting engineer for BHP Engineering, based in North Sydney.

Even when he "retired", Dad was still sort out for high-level mechanical plant, maintenance and engineering consulting work. He also regularly worked for Harrison Gray, Loss Adjusters Engineers and Consultants, which he found interesting. As he put it, "I enjoy the opportunity of seeing other people and situations from that to which I was accustomed. There sure are some skeletons in the cupboard of some organisations that pop up their heads during the process of an insurance assessment."

Mum and Dad kept busy: hosting family and relatives visiting Sydney; traveling on holidays site seeing and visiting family; plus Probus Club activities. Mum really enjoyed her time in the garden and Dad found Saturday sailing on Sydney harbour is a real treat.

Dad become a computer nut of sorts. He had three of them and would venture on to the Internet frequently. Let's face it, Internet email is a great way to maintain family relations. Watching Dad slowly pick out a letter on the keyboard was agonizing though. He experimented with voice input and it's safe to say that he would have really benefited from it more than most!

(L to R) Dean, Marie, Lloyd, ?????, Kym, Paul Frenchs Forest, circa mid 1980s

Kym Borrett — Brother

My brother Kym "Stork" Borrett was born in Whyalla, South Australia, moved to Adelaide when he was 16, and eventually moved to Sydney, where he is still based. Kym represented Australia in basketball, and played in the early years of the Australian National Basketball League for the Adelaide City Eagles, and later the Adelaide 36ers. He still stays fairly fit. Back in the day, Kym received a $500 prize for submitting the winning entry to name and create a logo for the national basketball team — Boomers. Today, Kym operates his own company, Starscribe Productions, as a hands-on, creative design and video professional. Kym is father to Dean and Max.