50 years ago today, my final year Politics student & fellow cricketer at the University of NSW, Jonnie Sheens and I, were in Mozambique when the revolution was in full sway.

We seemed to be the only Europeans driving into the troubles
.
Coming from Swaziland (where we had won a motza at the casino) we were stopped at the border by armed and angry Frelimo fighters.
Jonnie’s response, “We are friends of Gough Whitlam!.” was greeted with puzzlement.

On the way in to Mozambique , we saw squads of Portuguese families fleeing what is now Maputo for South Africa.

We especially noticed a number of large vans bearing the name GRAFTON EVEREST REMOVALS.

Despite many spurious claims to the contrary. that is how the bumbling, overweight, teetotal Dr Professor Grafton Everest actually got his name.

in all nine Grafton Everest sexual/political satires so far published the same key characters appear. These include Grafton and his wife Janet who both teach at the University of Mangoland ( where Grafton is a Professor of Life Skills & Hospitality; Janet a Lecturer in Fibre Art) , plus their daughter Lee-Anne and her long time carer Nanny Neal.

The latest Grafton Everest adventure, Pandemonium, (published by Hybrid in Melbourne and co authored with my Queensland buddy Ian McFadyen of ‘Comedy Company’ fame) is one of the books entered for the 2025 Russell Prize for Humour Writing.

In Maputo, Jonnie and I stayed in the top floor suite of the opulent Hotel Turismo.
There, on the carefully manicured lawns, we played croquet – with machinegun fire in the distance.

From the Hotel Turismo we sent we sent for his birthday a telegram to Australian cricket star Doug Walters, who was born on 21 December 1945.

Did Dougie receive it, we wonder?

Professor Ross Fitzgerald AM

Have a peaceful & productive New Year.