The cosy chairs of Majestic Cinemas Kempsey welcomed almost 80 people from the Macleay Valley area on Thursday night for an insightful one and a half hour presentation into the life and times of Peter Fitzsimons.
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Fitzsimons, a former Wallaby and Member of the Order of Australia, spoke to the audience about a range of topics, mainly regarding the 30+ books he's written.
His rugby career saw him play under the controversial Alan Jones at Manly, to which Fitzsimons said they had many "personality differences".
The night started with Fitzsimons explaining how he began writing after an esteemed football career.
"My wife (Lisa Wilkinson) told me the old saying, find a job that you love and you'll never work a day in your life," he said.
His first book was then published in 1991 titled, Basking in Beirut and other adventures with Peter FitzSimons.
He then touched on his relationship with sportswriter Gary Smith who he credits with changing his writing style.
"I wanted to be the campfire story-teller but Gary taught me to use the devices of fiction and apply them to non-fiction," he explained.
"I wrote John Eales biography and asked him to read over it to which he got a few pages in and told me 'you still don't get it' and to put the reader on the field with the player.
"I then re-wrote the book in five days and five nights."
Rounding off the night, discussions presided over Kokoda, the stories of Joe Dawson, Two Guns Harry, Captain Cook and Norway's arrival at the South Pole.
Fitzsimons was also critical of previous efforts by Australian's to request a pardon for convicted war criminal Breaker Morant.
He also touched on his childhood and an aspect of Australia he feels has been lost on society today.
"Growing up in Peats Ridge you knew everyone and now I live in the middle of Sydney and there's no sense of community there, I feel that doesn't exist in Australia to the extent it used to," he said.
When questions were thrown to the floor, local author Garry Munday asked for his thoughts on the concussion debate.
Fitzsimons was critical of Australian rugby league captain Boyd Cordner's history with concussions as well as referencing to an incident with Josh Dugan in 2017 where the former St George-Illawarra Dragon laid motionless for 30 seconds before being allowed to play on.
"I've previously spoken to a neurologist in America and asked, 'out of 100 rugby players how many would have brain damage?'" he added.
"The answer was 100%."
As Chairman of the Australian Republic Movement he was also asked about that topic to which he offered a passionate response.
"If you have a daughter/son, they can grow up to be anything they want except the head of state of their own country," he said.
"The Australian head of state cannot be someone from Australia, it's ridiculous."
Local businesses, Fuller Food Co. Catering by Renaye & Ben, Depot Cafe, Bucket Brewery and the Gourmet Chicken Shop teamed up to provide post presentation refreshments where attendees were presented with a meet and greet opportunity with Fitzsimons.
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