John grew up on the east coast, near St Helens, on his family’s farm and knew from a young age that his heart lay in farming. He attended the St Helens District High School for his primary years, before attending Launceston Church Grammar School for high school. On completing year 12 he returned home and worked on the farm for two years before then attending Lincoln College in New Zealand, and completing a Diploma in Farm Management. Whilst in New Zealand he worked on the Te Mania Cattle Stud during the term holidays, and also played rugby.
Upon returning to Tasmania in 1996 he worked with his father and they transitioned out of sheep and into the breeding of stud and commercial Angus cattle. John has a passion for Angus cattle and has been a Federal Councillor on the Angus Society of Australia.
John’s up-bringing was characterised by isolation, hard work, civic duty and the importance of family. The Tucker family in Tasmania’s north east is known as a family of pioneers in mining, forestry, farming and boat building, who truly understood the importance of giving back to their local communities. John continues this legacy today.
John is entrepreneurial and has achieved significant growth in his farming business. In 2011 John took over official management of Antu Trading, which has underdone significant growth and is now the Antu Cattle Company. Through hard work, thoughtful consideration and determination, John is proud of the position the family business is now in.
In 2014 John was urged by local community members to stand for the upcoming Break O Day council elections. John has thoroughly enjoyed his time as a councillor and was re-elected for a second term in 2018. He is passionate about the rural and regional communities throughout Tasmania, and is committed to ensuring the young people in these areas receive excellent educational and career opportunities. John’s three sisters each moved to the mainland during the 1990’s to advance their careers, and John is committed to working towards reversal of this situation. Tasmania’s young people deserve bright futures here in their home state.
John has been married to Mhari for sixteen years, and they have four children, Elizabeth, Angus, Campbell and Posie. On a rare day off he enjoys the beauty of the east coast’s beaches and lagoons, or watching the kids sporting activities.