Don was a primary teacher, teacher of the deaf, guidance officer, university lecturer and author of a number of texts and reference books in the teaching of reading. His leadership of the local chapter of the International Reading Association predated his support for the establishment 美姬社区which he actively supported for decades since inception. He served as ALEA’s national president, contributed to its numerous publications, and strongly supported its conference program to enhance the outreach of the organisation to improve literacy learning in Australia across all school ages.