Manfred's parents immigrated to Australia when he was two years old. His Dad, Russian born Latvian, and Mum, a Polish born German, makes him One Hundred Percent mongrel-bred, and Australian by choice.
Manfred grew up in country Victoria, to an outdoors lifestyle. Most weekends and holidays were spent in the scrub shooting and fishing with nights reading Australian Classics by candle and camp-fire light. He has been a keen bushwalker and outdoorsman ever since.
He left home at an early age to do the "Great Circle" trip. During that time Manfred worked at a number of different jobs, steel-fixer on the Snowy (Blowering Diversion Tunnel), road gang on the Nullabour (Balladonia), cane cutter FNQ (Ingham) and croc shooter in NT (out of Borrooloola) before a stint in the Services. He also completed an IT Degree as a mature age student.
This has given him a rich well of life's expriences to draw from. His writings reflect insight, sensitivity and humour.
Since he started writing and performing, Manfred has won several awards, including:
2009 TSA Songwriters’ Salute Awards of Australia
WINNER, Contemporary Country Song of the Year - "Strum"
(co-written with Shaza Leigh)
2008 Australian Songwriting Contest
Top 10 Finalist (5th), Lyrics Category - "Thundering Ore" (Pilbara Song)
2008 Katherine Country Music Muster NT
Top 5 Finalist, Lyrics Only - "Strum"
2008 Tamworth Songwriters Association
WINNER, Lyrics Only - "Saddle by the Door"
2007 North Pine Camp Oven Festival
1st, Original Serious
3rd, Original Humorous
2007 Brisbane "Ecca" Poetry Comp
1st, Original Humorous
2007 Bundaberg Poets Muster
2nd, Open Modern
2007 Qld Open Bush Poetry Championships
3rd, Open Original
3rd, Open Traditional
2006 Qld Open Bush Poetry Championships
2nd, Open Original
2nd, Open Traditional
2005 Beaudesert Country and Horse Poetry Festival
1st, Open Original
