Born in the
Riverina region of
New South Wales, Dufty moved to the Queensland town of
Proserpine, to be with his wife, Olga, whom he married in 1970. He competed in
rugby league,
rugby union, and amateur boxing while living in New South Wales. He worked for the
Shire of Proserpine from 1975 to 2003, at first as a parking inspector. He has served on the committees of many organisations related to disability and sport. In 2003, he won a by-election to select a councillor of the
Whitsunday Shire Council after the previous holder of that position died suddenly, and he served out the remainder of her term. He and his family were the subject of a 1981 documentary that aired throughout Australia. ==Competitive career==