Ken Spillman’s review of Chalk and Cheese
HAVE-A-GO NEWS No. 403, OCTOBER 2025, p 38.

NEVER judge a book by its cover. While reading Chalk and Cheese: A Fabrication, I thought of this saying many times. Shackled with one of the most insipid and unattractive covers I’ve seen, it’s a cracking read.

If I were not a regular viewer of SBS TV’s Insight program, I would never have sought it out. Insight delves into social issues, exploring different viewpoints in a conversational way. A March episode dealing with the health services and care provided to older Australians featured Ross Fitzgerald, who cheekily made mention of his new book.

Fitzgerald is an 80 year-old Emeritus Professor in History and Politics at Griffith University. He co-wrote Chalk and Cheese with 77-year-old Ian McFadyen, best known as creator and producer of Network 10’s The Comedy Company. 

Their collaboration has previously yielded a series of outrageous political satires – but this novel avoids the burlesque and is a gentle, droll reflection on the realities of ageing.

It begins with the arrival of Bill Bradley at Elysian Waters, an expansive suburban aged care village. Once an influential talk show host on radio, Bill is gradually recovering from a debilitating stroke. With his conservative politics, he is horrified to find that he now shares an address with Ben Curran, a long-time activist with left-wing views. Fitzgerald and Mcadyen focus on the human – not the politics – as the grumpy old foes shuffle begrudgingly toward a strange and ultimately heart-warming rapprochement.

The key to this is their recognition of common concerns. With assistance from grandchildren (who use AI to mask the identity of the two men) they create witty podcasts holding governments and corporations to account on a range of significant issues. 
Clips are posted to social media and, to the surprise of Bill and Ben, the podcasts go viral. The issues they tackle are picked up by mainstream media, influence public debate and become a force for change.

Fitzgerald and Mc-Fadyen’s central characters are multi-dimensional and there is a richly diverse supporting cast. 
A knowledgeable old woman with zero short-term memory proves invaluable to the project. The relationships Bill and Ben have with their respective children and grandchildren are utterly believable. The authors deliver more fun through the cooperation of a few subversive staff  members of Elysian Waters.

There’s never a dull moment in Chalk and Cheese.

While the cover may not invite readers to pick it up, once begun it’s very hard to put down. At its core, it carries the conviction that older Australians are far more than a list of ailments and a burden on society. It is poignant and funny and will appeal to a very wide audience. 

Chalk and Cheese: A Fabrication by Ross Fitzgerald and Ian McFadyen – Hybrid Publishers, $24.99. 

HAVE-A-GO NEWS No. 403, OCTOBER 2025, p 38.
Have a Go News is Western Australia’s longest running lifestyle newspaper targeting the mature demographic.