The American first visited the south-west as an exhange student in 1979, when he lived with former Warrnambool City councillor Rob Askew, wife Dulcie and their children Janine, Gary and Leesa. 

His 11-month stay had such a lasting impact he has now returned for a summer holiday with his wife Renee and daughters Annie and Dulcie, who is named after Mrs Askew.

“Who doesn’t like Australian summers?” he said. “It’s just fun to be here.

“It had been a while since Renee and I had been to Warrnambool, so it was time for a visit again.

“We were in Perth last Christmas and really enjoyed it and decided another visit to Australia was in order.” 

He said his time in Warrnambool opened his mind to bigger possibilities.

“It launched me into the life that I live now,” he said.

“A period of time here in Warrnambool has given me a life of being a citizen of the world, instead of living in just one place.”

The Boring family will spend three weeks in Australia. They now live in Cambodia, where the Askews have visited them.

Mr Askew said Mr Boring still addressed him and his wife as “Mum” and “Dad” and Mrs Askew said Mr Boring was “definitely” part of the family.

“It’s great to have them back here,” Mrs Askew said.

“We visited them two years ago in Cambodia. It’s lovely to be a family again.”

Mr and Mrs Boring’s daughters Annie and Dulcie have enjoyed a swim at Warrnambool’s main beach and are looking forward to visiting the Maremmas on Middle Island.

Mr Boring also surprised Leesa in Warrnambool on her wedding day in 1998, as she was walking down the aisle.

“It was a huge surprise,” she said.

“It was the best thing. It’s great to catch up now and meet my nieces.”

On Christmas morning the Boring and Askew families went to a service at the same church where Leesa was married.

“The girls stoppped at the same spot to check out where aunty Leesa screamed when I surprised her,” Mr Boring said.

He still keeps in contact with Warrnambool friends he made during his time in the city.