Gary Wood is an Australian author, storyteller and motorcycle traveller who believes that life’s greatest chapters often begin after major transitions.
After a successful career spanning more than 40 years in trades, training, education and organisational development, Gary entered a new chapter of life by combining his passion for motorcycles, history and storytelling.
Travelling Australia’s back roads by motorcycle, Gary has explored forgotten communities, historical locations and the landscapes that shaped the nation. His journeys have become the foundation for his award-winning writing, including three travel memoirs:
- Gun Fights, Ghosts and Goannas (Award for Best Non-Fiction Literature)
- Red Dust and Rainforests
- What the Road Teaches (due to be published in 2026)
Through engaging storytelling, original photography and humour, Gary brings Australia’s history to life while exploring themes of resilience, connection, purpose and personal reinvention.
Topic One – Lessons from the Road: Finding Peace in a World of Expectation
What I realised when I left full-time work was that much of what I had worked towards, my qualifications, my career, my reputation, my networks and the identity I had crafted over forty years seemed to vanish like smoke the day I carried my belongings out of the office.
When I “retired”, I found myself facing questions I wasn’t expecting. Questions about identity, purpose, belonging and what it means to build a meaningful life when the structure of work disappears.
“Who are we when the role we’ve spent years building comes to an end?” The answer wasn’t found in a self-help book. It was found on the road.
After 40,000 kilometres of solo motorcycle travel through Australia’s back roads, countless conversations with strangers and an enduring fascination with Australian history, I found myself answering the questions that had followed me since retirement and divorce: “Who am I now?” and “Where do I go from here?”
What audiences take away:
In this presentation I share the insights that have helped me transition from father, husband, provider and manager to adventurer, writer and explorer.
The audiences will take away from this presentation:
- practical use of gratitude and acceptance to build self-esteem
- Insights into defining your life story
- ways to transition from one chapter to the next and how to create an adventurous future
Topic Two – Australia is a funny country, from gentleman bushrangers to recalcitrant wombats
Throughout my travels I have suffered mechanical failures, and unexpected challenges, I have ridden into the night trying to find a flat dry place to camp, sometimes worrying to the point of anxiety about my safety. The road teaches us resilience and in many situation complete strangers reach out a helping hand or a word of encouragement. Sometimes the difference between absolute despair and a positive mental attitude is a joke or a funny situation.
What the audiences take away:
In this presentation I talk about lessons from the road and how humour doesn’t remove adversity-but can change the way we experience it:
- lessons for managing unexpected challenges and how to grow from adversity
- ways to keep an open mind during difficult times
- practical ways to use humour to change perspective
Topic Three -Creating a new you: Lessons about sliding doors and alternative pathways
How do we know that we made the right choices in life. When things don’t go as we expected we often look at our past decisions as question “What if we had only done X differently then we would be richer, stronger or more successful”.
The question became prevalent after my divorce and retirement. Did I make the right decisions back then? What if I had more qualifications? Did I spend too much time at work? “What if, became the dominant question in my life”.
Travelling Australia by motorcycle gave me and opportunity to revisit some of the places where I made major decisions that altered the course of my life. As I sat on a beach at 4.30 in the morning I had a conversation with my younger self. I realised that life’s pathways are created from a series of decisions and once those decisions are made all other possibilities fade away leaving only those on the new path.
What audiences takeaway from this presentation:
- lessons as to how decisions have changed your life
- understanding the importance of your internal self-image: you’re not necessarily who you think you are
- appreciation of the importance of visualising a new you and how it can open new possibilities for the future
“Because some of the most meaningful adventures don’t happen when we’re young. They happen when we discover there’s still more of the story left to write”.
Suitable Organisations
Gary’s presentations are suitable for:
Men’s Sheds
RSL clubs
Black Dog Ride events
Mental Health Week programs
Libraries
Historical societies
Rotary and Lions clubs
Probus groups
Motorcycle organisations
Regional councils
Tourism events
Workplace wellbeing programs,
Writers Festivals
Presentation Options
Community Presentation
Duration: 45–60 minutes
Includes:
Presentation
Photography
Audience interaction
Q&A
Keynote Presentation
Duration: 60–90 minutes
Includes:
Tailored content
Professional storytelling
Audience engagement
Q&A
Author Event
Includes:
Talk
Book discussion
Book signing
Photography display
Technical Requirements
Gary provides:
Digital presentation
incorporating original photography
Professional presentation materials
Requirements:
Projector or screen
Microphone for larger audiences
Small table for book display
Fees
Speaker fees are tailored according to:
Organisation type
Event size
Location
Travel requirements
Community organisations and volunteer groups are encouraged to discuss options.
Contact
Gary Wood
Author | Speaker | Adventure Storyteller
https://digitalswaggie.com.au
gary@digitalswaggie.com.au
0408 004 127
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