1959 onward
Learning what family means
Growing up through the hard bits, then deciding to build something warmer.

A father. A fighter. A fairly opinionated bloke.
After a heart attack nearly ended his story, Steve started writing to his sons about the stuff that matters: family, resilience, leadership, footy, laughter—and making the most of your time.

Mr & Mrs Red Dog, 1989Steve is a Melbourne-born, Brisbane-based husband, father, HR man, sports nut and lifelong believer that most things can be made better with humour, honesty and a decent yarn.
In 2018, on holiday in Phuket, a heart attack stopped him in his tracks. Three stents, an irregular heartbeat and one brutal night later, his family was told to expect the worst. Steve made it home.
That close call sharpened an idea: write something for Tom and Nick that might help them understand their dad, themselves and life. The result became the Red Dog's Blogs—warm, blunt, funny reflections on everything from parenthood and leadership to Richmond and lawn bowls.
In 2025, a cardiac arrest took him down again. Friends, CPR and a club defibrillator brought him back. In Steve's words: eight not out.
The “Dungeon”—home of the Red Dog's BlogHover if you're curious. Steve usually is.
1959 onward
Growing up through the hard bits, then deciding to build something warmer.

The main event
Tom and Nick were always the reason. The book simply made it official.

2018 + 2025
Prostate cancer, heart failure and cardiac arrest. Still here. Still laughing.

2020—2026
One hundred blogs, one final epilogue and a book for the boys.

Hard-earned. Lightly delivered. Best read in an Australian accent.
“Resilience is the key to just about everything.
— Red Dog rule #01
“Make people laugh and you'll be doing the world the greatest favour of all.
— Red Dog rule #02
“Leave the joint better off than you found it.
— Red Dog rule #03

By S J Reddaway
Not quite a memoir. More like a very long, very funny conversation with a dad who has lived enough life to know what matters.
Written across 18 months, Dear Boys... gathers Steve's Red Dog blogs into a practical, personal record for his sons—and for anyone who has ever wished they'd asked a parent one more question.
The whole reason
“To our amazing sons, Tom and Nick—may you both find something useful here to help you on your way.”