Peter Fitzsimons Popular Books
Peter Fitzsimons Biography & Facts
Peter John Allen FitzSimons (born 29 June 1961) is an Australian author, journalist, and radio and television presenter. He is a former national representative rugby union player and was the chair of the Australian Republic Movement from 2015 to 2022. Early life FitzSimons grew up in Peats Ridge, in the Central Coast of New South Wales. He was one of seven children. He attended Peats Ridge Public School and Knox Grammar School before going in 1978 to Findlay High School, Ohio, for a year as an exchange student on an American Field Service Scholarship. He then completed an arts degree at the University of Sydney, residing at Wesley College from 1980 to 1982. Career Rugby FitzSimons first played club rugby with the Sydney University Football Club and then with the Manly RUFC in Sydney in the 1980s under the coaching of Alan Jones. Between 1985 and 1989 he played with CA Brive in France for four seasons as the club's first foreign player. He played seven test matches at lock for the Australian national rugby union team between 1989 and 1990, debuting against France in Strasbourg in November 1989, on the Wallabies 1989 tour of Europe. His final Test match was against the All Blacks in Christchurch. In On a Wing and a Prayer, former Wallabies winger David Campese criticised FitzSimons for starting a brawl in Australia's first Test against France in 1990.: 117, 166 Campese labelled FitzSimons' actions "a disgrace to the good name of rugby": 117 and asserted that "he was doing the game and its reputation enormous damage.": 166 Campese cautioned that if such fights "turn even one family away from the game, then they have been too costly".: 166 Former Wallabies backrower Willie Ofahengaue said of FitzSimons: "He's a big character. Funny guy. Talkative. One thing I remember about rooming with him was he used to get his suitcase, tip it up and pour everything out on to the floor. When it was time to go home he would chuck everything back in any old way. Fitzy was a real roughie, but he is married now so he must have changed." Journalist FitzSimons has written for The Sydney Morning Herald since 1988, and has been a sports columnist for that publication since 1987. He regularly appears on the Australian Foxtel program The Back Page, formerly hosted by rugby league journalist Mike Gibson and now Tony Squires. For the Saturday edition of The Sydney Morning Herald, FitzSimons writes a column titled "The Fitz Files" which looks at all the happenings over the past seven days in sport. He writes a more general version of "The Fitz Files" in The Sun-Herald on Sundays, focusing on community activities and events in Sydney. Andrew Denton has called him "Australia's finest sports journalist". On 25 September 2001 he wrote a thought provoking opinion editorial piece titled Memo world: try saying sorry to avoid a sorry end. In August 2022 Fitzsimons threatened to sue Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price for defamation when she said that he had been rude and aggressive in a telephone interview. Price urged FizSimons and the Sydney Morning Herald to release the recording of the interview but they declined to do so. Radio In January 2006 FitzSimons began co-hosting a breakfast radio program with Mike Carlton on Sydney radio station 2UE. He was brought onto the 2UE breakfast show in an attempt to boost the program's dwindling ratings. However, the Mike and Fitz Breakfast Show still trailed a long way behind the number one program on 2GB, hosted by FitzSimons' former coach Alan Jones. After two years, FitzSimons quit to become a stay-at-home dad and focus on his writing. Author FitzSimons is a prolific writer and is one of Australia's best-selling non-fiction writers. He has written books about subjects such as Nancy Wake, the shipwreck of the Batavia, Sir John Monash, Breaker Morant, Charles Kingsford Smith, and John Eales. Selected books FitzSimons, Peter (2022). The Battle of Long Tan. Sydney. ISBN 978-0-7336-4661-4. OCLC 1330547746.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) FitzSimons, Peter (2022). The Opera House. Australia: Hachette Australia. ISBN 9780733641336. OCLC 1273171989. FitzSimons, Peter (2020). Breaker Morant : the epic story of the Boer War and Harry 'Breaker' Morant : drover, horseman, bush poet, murderer or hero?. Sydney, N.S.W. ISBN 978-0-7336-4130-5. OCLC 1159022386.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) FitzSimons, Peter (2018). Burke & Wills : the triumph and tragedy of Australia's most famous explorers. Sydney, NSW. ISBN 978-0-7336-4079-7. OCLC 1030754077.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) FitzSimons, Peter (2018). Mutiny on the Bounty. Sydney NSW. ISBN 978-0-7336-3411-6. OCLC 1030754409.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) FitzSimons, Peter (2017). Victory at Villers-Bretonneux : why a French town will never forget the Anzacs. North Sydney, N.S.W. ISBN 978-1-925324-67-9. OCLC 993680220.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) FitzSimons, Peter (2012). Batavia. North Sydney, N.S.W.: Random House Australia. ISBN 978-1-86471-134-9. OCLC 774921323. FitzSimons, Peter (2011). Nancy Wake : a biography of our greatest war heroine 1912-2011. Sydney: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 978-0-7322-9525-7. OCLC 793815852. Community and political activism FitzSimons is or was involved with a range of community organisations. At the University of Sydney he was a fellow of the Senate from 2009 to 2013, as well as Pro-Chancellor, a patron of The Russell Prize for Humour Writing, State Library of New South Wales, since 2015 and chairman of the Australian Republic Movement from 2015 to 2022. Additionally he served on the council of the Australian War Memorial and founded the Cauliflower Club with Nick Farr-Jones. In the lead up to 2019 New South Wales state election, FitzSimons began a campaign to prevent the demolition of the Sydney Football Stadium and Stadium Australia. He began by launching a petition in late 2017 on Change.org that reached approximately 220,000 signatures prior to the election as well as numerous editorial articles decrying the demolitions. The stadium issue became a major element of the campaign with Labor leader Michael Daley calling the election a "referendum on stadiums". On 5 December 2017, FitzSimons remarked on Twitter that the incumbent Gladys Berejiklian government could "bulldoze and rebuild three new stadiums, including Parra, for $3Billion – on no demand – or they can win the next election, but they can't do both." On 23 March, Berejiklian and her coalition were easily returned to government, with political commentators suggesting that the issue did not resonate with the wider community of the state. The campaign had a minor success however, as the Government changed the original plan for a complete knock down rebuild of Stadium Australia, and instead would go ahead with a billion dollar refurbishment. The refurbishment would also be .... Discover the Peter Fitzsimons popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Peter Fitzsimons books.
Best Seller Peter Fitzsimons Books of 2024
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The Remarkable Mrs Reibey
Grantlee KiezaThe extraordinary story of Mary Reibey immortalised on the Australian $20 note, Australia's first female entrepreneur and the most powerful woman in colonial historySHORTLISTED FO...
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Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
Rob MundleThe Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is the story of one of the world's greatest sporting challenges.One evening in May 1945, a small group of Sydney sailing enthusiasts decided that their...
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Walking with the ANZACS
Mat McLachlan'[Mat McLachlan's] knowledge of the front is comprehensive' Sydney Morning HeraldA complete guide to the Australian battlefields of the Western Front 191618.Walking with the ANZAC...
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Australian Heist
James PhelpsAustralia's Number 1 True Crime Writer on Australia's Greatest Gold Robbery. On 15 June 1862, a gang of bushrangers held up a gold escort at Eugowra, just east of Forbes, NSW. They...
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The Dogs that Made Australia
Guy HullHunter. Worker. Legend. The untold story of the dog's role in building a nation.The Dogs That Made Australia pays tribute to the dogs that gave their all for our prosperity: the fe...
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The Ballad of Les Darcy
Peter FitzSimonsAn Australian hero torn between family and country 'Put Les Darcy in a uniform and the men of Australia will march to hell behind him.' that was the message trained on Australia's ...
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Lawson
Grantlee KiezaThe extraordinary rise, devastating fall and enduring legacy of an Australian iconHenry Lawson captured the heart and soul of Australia and its people with greater clarity and trut...
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No Silly Questions
Zara Seidler & Sam KoslowskiDo you ever feel overwhelmed by the news cycle and a bit lost without the background to everything that’s going on?You care what’s happening in the world – but you can’t help feeli...
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More Great Australian Outback Yarns
Bill MarshA collection of the funniest yarns and most colourful characters from the bestselling 'Great Australian Stories' series from beloved storyteller Bill 'Swampy' Marsh.The term 'Bible...
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Guts Glory and Blunder
Andrew FaulknerThis is a story of a forgotten battle. Other than in the haunted memories of those who fought there, and the families of those who died there, this battle is a footnote in the hist...
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Knockout
Grantlee KiezaA noholdsbarred collection of Australian boxing yarns by one of Australia's bestselling storytellers and boxing aficionado, Grantlee KiezaBoxing has given Australian sport some of ...
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Mutiny on the Bounty
Peter FitzSimonsThe mutiny on HMS Bounty, in the South Pacific on 28 April 1789, is one of history's truly great stories a tale of human drama, intrigue and adventure of the highest order and in...
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Charles Kingsford Smith and Those Magnificent Men
Peter FitzSimonsThe mustread story of the boy from Brisbane who became a wartime hero and aviation trailblazer.
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A Simpler Time
Peter FitzSimonsAn affectionate and hilarious tribute to the childhood of another era, from one of Australia's favourite authors A memoir of love, laughter, loss and billycarts Peter FitzSimons's ...
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Saga Land
Richard Fidler & Kári Gíslason'I adored this book a wondrous compendium of Iceland's best sagas' Hannah KentA new friendship. An unforgettable journey. A beautiful and bloody history.This is Iceland as you've...
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Gallipoli
Mat McLachlanThe essential travel companion for anyone visiting Gallipoli.Each year, thousands of Australians visit Gallipoli to pay homage and see where their forebears fought, suffered and di...
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All the Broken Soldiers
Jan McLeod & Andrew McLeodThis is the story of a soldier without a gun. It is personal, yet universal. It is the story of what is left behind when the battles have been fought and the war has moved on.To th...
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Destination Buchenwald
Colin BurgessThe harrowing story of the Allied airmen who experienced the true horrors of Nazism firsthand. It was the summer of 1944 as liberating Allied forces surged towards Paris following ...
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Hudson Fysh
Grantlee KiezaThe extraordinary life of the Gallipoli veteran and WWI Flying Corp gunner who founded Qantas and gave Australia its wingsBy the critically acclaimed author of bestselling biograph...
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Flinders
Grantlee KiezaThe extraordinary life, loves and voyages of the man who put Australia on the mapIn 1810, Matthew Flinders made his final voyage home to his beloved wife, Ann, his body ravaged by ...
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Kokoda
Peter FitzSimonsA story of young Australians' mateship and bravery against all odds in WWIIFor Australians, Kokoda is the iconic battle of World War II, yet few people know just what happened and...
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Tobruk
Peter FitzSimonsThe number 1 nonfiction bestseller.More than 100,000 copies sold! 'What we have, we hold'MOttO OF AUStRALIA'S 2/17tH BAttALIONIn the tradition of his bestselling Kokoda, Peter Fitz...
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The Ferals that Ate Australia
Guy HullDangerous predators and ravenous herbivores: the story of Australia's feral nightmareWinner of the 2022 Whitley Award, for a book about invasive species zoology.Isolation was once ...
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Sister Viv
Grantlee KiezaThe inspiring story of the nursing hero who survived a wartime massacre and dedicated her life to saving others from the critically acclaimed, bestselling author of Flinders, The ...
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Monash
Grantlee KiezaStunning trade paperback edition of Grantlee Kieza's bestselling biography of Australia's greatest generalIt's December 1918 and the world war is over. General Sir John Monash atte...
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My Life in Ruins
Adam FordPart memoir, part potted history of civilisation, My Life in Ruins is the account of a life lived in uncovering the past.Adam Ford is an archaeologist. Not only has he been on expe...
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Captain James Cook
Rob MundleA biography that puts you on the quarterdeck with history's greatest sailorCaptain James Cook is one of the greatest maritime explorers in world history. Over three remarkable voya...
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Australia According To Hoges
Paul HoganStories and yarns about my favourite bits of Down UnderPaul Hogan's ancestors were a couple of Irish blowins who arrived in the colony of New South Wales by boat, with a little ass...
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Great Australian Outback Yarns
Bill MarshA collection of the funniest yarns and most colourful characters from the bestselling 'Great Australian Stories' series from beloved storyteller Bill 'Swampy' Marsh.When he'd finis...
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The Battle for Lone Pine
David W. CameronMost Australian have heard of Lone Pine. Too few know why.Over four days in August 1915, Australians and Turks were thrown into some of the fiercest fighting of the war, on a small...
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Mrs Kelly
Grantlee KiezaThe astonishing life of Ned Kelly's motherWhile we know much about the iconic outlaw Ned Kelly, his mother Ellen Kelly has been largely overlooked by Australian writers and histori...