Some thoughts on Ross Fitzgerald and Ian McFadyen’s Chalk and Cheese: A Fabrication(Hybrid Publishers: Melbourne, $24.99)

“It’s a great read, funny, wry and just cynical enough but with a strain of hope throughout that reflects reality.” – Bridget Shapter

“Chalk and Cheese  is a work of brilliantly cinematic quality.” –Nigel Marsh, Smart, Stupid & Sixty

“… my current top Australian fiction read this year.” – Eamonn O’Hanlon, The Sydney Institute Review of Books, September 2025

” … quite remarkable writing about the contrasting values that dominate contemporary society … absolutely splendid writing deserving of significant recognition” – …

                by Andrew Drummond

  Ross has sapphire eyes,

               Atheists faith his prayers do rise

               Used by God, he never knew

               the heavens paused, souls he drew

               heaven purgatory or hell

               his testimonies made all heavens swell

               the final curtain will play his song,

               mate I had your back all along,

               a lovely wife awaits this place,

               no more tears just abounding grace 

               enjoy the moon stars and sun

               all free gifts like sobriety won

  …

***Telum Talks To: Ross Fitzgerald – Professor, Journalist, Columnist, Narrative Historian, and Author / Co-authorInterview AustraliaBy Jane Hewitson—Telum Media spoke with Ross Fitzgerald AM, an Emeritus Professor of History and Politics at Griffith University, a Journalist, Columnist, Narrative Historian, and Author / Co-author/ Editor of 46 books. He shares his journey about writing the soon-to-be launched book, “Chalk and Cheese: A Fabrication”, and his insights on journalism and storytelling.

What was your publishing journey like for your new book, Chalk and Cheese? As with my Dr Professor Grafton Everest adventures, my collaboration …

Letter To The EditorWinning decisionIt would be a wise and potentially vote-winning choice for the State ALP to change tack and, instead of supporting the building of a hugely expensive Aussie Rules Stadium in Hobart, to redevelop the existing stadium in Launceston.This would not only deliver a long hoped for AFL team for Tasmanians but at the same time protect Hobart-heritage-values and the state’s financial condition.As a lifetime Collingwood supporter I do understand that “football isn’t a matter of life or death. It’s much more important than that!”But this has …

Last week on Canberra Radio 2CC, Emeritus Professor of History and Politics at Griffith University, Ross Fitzgerald predicted that in the federal election the Liberals, headed by Peter Dutton, would receive the lowest percentage primary vote in history.

And that, as a result, the ALP would govern in its own right.

Griffith University Media 07 37355555

Obituary for Keith Windshuttleby Ross Fitzgerald, Emeritus Professor of History and Politics at Griffith University.

Fellow historian and long-time friend Professor Ross Fitzgerald said that “Windshuttle argued that, to support their own political and ideological agendas, some Australian historians had either invented or falsified the amount of racial violence that occurred in colonial times.”

“In this regard, Windschuttle extended the claims of pioneer Australian historian, Professor Geoffrey Blainey, by focusing on what he regarded as false statements about the extent of racial violence in early 19th Van Diemen’s Land,” Prof Fitzgerald said.

The …

Friends,

Here is the link for SBSTV’s Insight program on elder health Tuesday 18 March at 8.30 pm

The episode will be available at this link after 9:30pm on Tuesday 18h March – once it has finished airing on television.https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/news-series/insightProf Ross Fitzgerald, Redfern NSW 0419 661869

Re SBSTV’s Insight program about elder abuse and elder health

The episode will be available at this link below after 9:30pm on Tuesday 18th March – once it has finished airing on television on Tuesday 18th March at 8:30 pmhttps://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/news-series/insight

This program will also be available at any time afterwards on SBS On Demand.A YouTube version will be available for international viewers in the weeks that follow.

Professor Ross Fitzgerald AMRedfern , Australia 0419 661869

Friends,

SBSTV’s Insight program on elder health has been moved forward to next Tuesday 18th March at 8:30 pm.  

Or any time afterwards on SBS On Demand. 

I’m told that my Weekend Australian article on elder abuse and our forthcoming novel Chalk and Cheese both get a mention.

Could you please spread the word.

RedfernRoss 0419 6661869 

Ian McFadyen, of ‘Comedy Company’ fame and I have nearly finished Chalk & Cheese, a novel about two 80 year old, ex radio stars (Bill & Ben) who hated each other and who end up in the same nursing home.

It is due to be publishedby our nimble Melbourne-based publisher Hybrid in a few months.

Eve though it has comedic aspects, Chalk & Cheese is not a comedy, but it is very filmic & would suit a number of actors who are no longer spring chickens.

Sam Neil or Geoffrey Rush as Bill …

LETTERS

Defence of the elderly

1. Ross Fitzgerald’s article is a powerfully insightful reminder of an inconvenient truth our generation are all too quick to ignore – That older people are indeed people. (“The very real danger of the cashed-up boomer stereotype” 1-2/2)

It is convenient for the struggling daughter or son to ignore that older Australians have the same hopes, dreams and economic fears as they do.

There is nothing wrong with the older generation giving to the youth. But it is shameful that coercion guided by expectation and entitlement becomes the oft …