Born in Melbourne but since 1977 has been a Lawyer for Colac and Apollo Bay. Stuart holds Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law Degrees and is Senior Partner of the firm SLM Lawyers. The firm has offices in Apollo Bay, Colac, Camperdown and Cobden.

Stuart is married with three children and has for thirty years owned a property at Cawood Street, Apollo Bay. He was a founding trustee of the Apollo Bay and District Health Foundation.

Stuart has a wide ranging knowledge of the local community and has previously been a member of on the Birregurra and District Hospital Boards and Colac District Hospital Boards. Stuart is also a Director of Sewells Finance Limited a financial services company which operates in the district that involves the taking of money on debenture deposits and the arranging of first mortgage loans.