Adrian was born in Kimba, South Australia. His father was a technician with SA Water and his mother was a business woman who owned and ran a guest house. Adrian was brought up in the country and was taught the value of a work ethic, having to help in the guest house and operate the small farm which supplied milk and eggs for the guest house.

He met a wide range of guests including five teachers who had a major influence on his life along with a range of displaced persons, and World War 2 refugees who taught him many valuable things, including playing chess. It was during this time that Adrian, as a 6 year old, listened to a a visitor speak at his school on one of the parables of Jesus, the Sower and the Seed. He challenged Adrian personally to be “the good seed” and multiply his life one hundred times - and this was to form the foundation of a vision for his life purpose.

Adrian excelled at school as well as the local sports competition of tennis in summer and football in winter. He also enjoyed Boy Scouts and being in the youth group at the Methodist Church. It was an idyllic life and ended when his parents’ marriage dissolved and the family moved to Adelaide for further education opportunities.