 Grylls was born in Perth, but was raised in Corrigin, a small town in Western Australia's Wheatbelt region.A farmer and small business owner, he was elected to the Corrigin Shire Council in 2000, but resigned the following year to contest the 2001 state election, winning the seat of Merredin.Grylls was elected state leader of the National Party in 2005, replacing Max Trenorden.