Alan was born in Narragyambie, to Laurence and Ann-Marie Burdett. He was soon followed by six siblings, Stephen, Barry, Elizabeth, Samantha, Liam and Emily - and to this day the Burdett family is rather close. He attended St Andrews Primary School, and at age eleven, was sent to Tallygarunga Academy. He was a decent student, but tended to prefer pranking other students to actual study, and as his biggest goal in life was to run his own farm, seemed rather disinterested in school.
At the end of his sixth year, he had a change of heart, and studied his hardest to achieve a higher score than his previous years. He graduated with moderate results, as Head Boy for 1984. He attended Victoria Magical University, studying to become a potions teacher. After graduation he returned to Tally to teach, resuming ties with friends Matt Longhurst and Rachel Myers.
His progress through the school was relatively quick. By 1998, he had become Head of Spencer, and Deputy Headmaster. 1999 saw him in his first year as Headmaster, and has been there since. To date, Alan has proposed to two women. His school love Amanda Longhurst, and ex-professor Gabrielle Hawkson. He has bought rings for (but not proposed to) Kate McElhaney, and Drea Church. Both left him before he had the chance. In early 2008, Alan's first child was born - after a scandalous episode with Adele DeVylissea.
Alan loved Lauren more than anything, but lost her in a tragic accident six months later. Today, he is still trying to pick up the pieces after his daughter's death. He has returned to teaching at the school, and regained his position as headmaster. During this rough time he reconnected with Rachel Myers, who had recently returned to town. Alan fell for her charm, the rural girl that he'd known though his early teaching days had finally returned to his life and he was happy. They married in December 2009, their first child Cameron Alan was born soon after in 2010.
Neither Alan nor Rachel wanted Cameron to grow up an only child. Sarah Grace was born in 2011. Octavia Renae was born in 2013, and after the birth cracks began developing in Alan and Rachel's relationship. In late 2016, Alan forced Rachel to move out, feeling that her behaviour was putting the children at risk.
A bitter legal intervention followed, and he now has full custody of all three children. Still, he's reluctant to initiate any divorce proceedings, as he believes that maybe, one day, she will come to her senses.