Why waste time on FB catching up on peoples highlight reels, food pics or relationship drama? 

However I'm trying to change that as the dream is to retire from my day job and do this full time.I live in Australia so would like to make friends and build relationships with all you who's on the ground or are doing the same as me.Hopefully our mutual friendship will result in win win deals for all.Dave

There is the relationship component to it, and it might be short sighted to cut him out, even if you can, if there is longer term opportunity to stay on his good side.

I would spend more time focusing on establishing a relationship with an operator.

Pick one market and go deep into that market to understand the dynamics and to build relationships.

For example, I felt like I couldn't make an offer if I didn't have a good relationship with a title company. 

Start by making relationships with the top brokers in the area. 

Depending on the relationship between you and the family member, you might be able to avoid transfer taxes.

Similarly, I am curious as to whether a mentor should be in my immediate location or that a long-distance relationship would suffice.Any advice and insight into the validity of my thought process would be much appreciated as well as the best practices I should be taking to find a great mentor! 

Use this opportunity to begin a relationship with that mortgage broker or mortgage banker associated with that bank.