Queensland’s autocratic ALP premier and Australia’s only Communist Party MP:The St Patrick’s Day bash.

Professor Ross Fitzgerald AM

History and politics buffs should either be made aware, or be given cause to remember, that in Brisbane, on St Patrick’s Day 1948, Australia’s only Communist Party MP, Fred Paterson, was almost murdered by a Queensland policeman, almost certainly at the instigation of someone higher up.

From 1944 to 1950, Frederick Woolnough (‘Fred’) Paterson was the CPA member for Bowen in the Queensland Legislative Assembly.Soon after his election, it was said of Paterson that only …

Forgive my imperfect memory, but did I mention that SBSTV’s Insight program on elder heath has been moved forward to next Tuesday 18th March at 8:30 pm.

It is also available any time after 9.30am that night 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.

Please spread the word that the program will be show next Tuesday

RedfernRossProfessor Ross Fitzgerald AM

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 …

Some books to buy for Christmas 2024 and New Year 2025 – in print and online

Ross Fitzgerald’s latest books published by Hybrid in Melbourne and available online, are a memoir Fifty Years Sober: An Alcoholic’s Journey and the Grafton Everest adventures The Ascent of Everest, in which American president Donald Thump and Russia’s Vladimir Putrid are both assassinated

The Ascent of Everest is a boxed set of four coauthored Australian political satires comprising Going Out Backwards, The Dizzying Heights The Lowest Depths and Pandemonium.

All these adventures of the corpulent, teetotal Dr …

This year the nimble Melbourne publisher Hybrid have taken a punt and released The Ascent of Everest, a boxed set of four Australian political  satires.

All these fictions centre on Dr Professor Grafton Everest, whose first academic position, in the mid-1980s, was a lecturer in Life Skills and Hospitality at the ultra leftist University of  Mangoland. At the same time, Grafton Everest was also assailed by the uber-right-wing government of the odious premier of Mangoland, Sir Otis Hoogstratten.

These days, in 2025, through no wish or effort of his own, Grafton has become …

This year the nimble Melbourne publisher Hybrid have taken a punt and released The Ascent of Everest, a boxed set of four Australian political satires.

All these fictions centre on Dr Professor Grafton Everest, whose first academic position, in the mid-1980s, was a lecturer in Life Skills and Hospitality at the ultra leftist University of Mangoland.

At the same time, Grafton Everest was also assailed by the uber-right-wing government of the odious premier of Mangoland, Sir Otis Hoogstratten.

These days, in 2025, through no wish or effort of his own, Grafton has become …

The Muddle-Headed Wombat Abroad

Matthew WhiteQuadrant, June 2024 pp 81-84

Is there any point in being a satirist in the postmodern world, especially in present-day liberal democracies? How can one create a sense of just ridicule of social and political conduct when the daily newsfeed promises to produce examples that are more absurd than the satirist’s imagination, leaving even his or her best work the loser in a sinister game of psychic one-upmanship?

Who can better as satire the Prime Minister refusing to comment on his telephonic argument with Father Frank Brennan about …

Launch of The Ascent of Everest : The Outrageous Adventures of Grafton Everest by Ross Fitzgerald & Ian McFadyen.(Hybrid Publishers, Melbourne, $49.99)

The Olsen Gallery Woollahra, Sydney 6pm May 9, 2024.

Tuesday morning, when I was stumbling around Surry Hills, a middle-aged woman asked: “Are you Professor Fitzgerald, author of the Grafton books?”

After I responded “Yes”, she said , “You look much better on the television!”

When, as many people do, she then inquired, “Is Grafton you?”, I responded : “Of course not. He’s what I could become if I let myself go!”

But …

He comes from a place that resembles Queensland and now Professor Ross Fitzgerald’s shambolic academic and former politician Grafton Everest is back in a new satirical novel and you will never guess what he’s up to now..
Author Ross Fitzgerald’s shambolic fictional character Grafton Everest back in a new novel and this time around he’s the boss of the world.
Grafton Everest is the shambolic former Australian independent senator recently elevated to become the first Australian Secretary-General of the United Nations. You didn’t hear about this?
Well then, you need to read about …

Here’s the first review of Pandemonium. “This is the best Grafton Everest satire yet.” – Ken Spillman
 

Pandemonium 
By Ross Fitzgerald and Ian McFadyen 
Hybrid Publishers: Melbourne, $32.99 
 
Review by Ken Spillman 
 

The late Barry Humphries knew a thing or two about creating memorable characters. It’s notable, then, that the front cover of Ross Fitzgerald and Ian McFadyen’s latest collaboration, Pandemonium, quotes Humphries’ view that ‘Grafton Everest is a wonderful creation’. 
 
And so he is. In this latest satire, the world-weary Grafton’s escapades stem from his baffling appointment as Australia’s first Secretary-General of the United Nations. …

GRAFTON EVEREST MEETS THE TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAYThe Lowest Depths by Ross Fitzgerald & Ian McFadyenHybrid Publishers, Melbourne 2021RRP: $24.99 (pb)Reviewed by Alan GregoryGraham Green’s term “An Entertainment”, probably best sums up this beautifully produced book.The Lowest Depths is a very good read, with equal elements of a socio-politico farce and of a spy thriller, plus a touch of sci-fi!As with its predecessor, The Dizzying Heights, this book featuring Dr Professor Grafton Everest is written by two Melbourne High School old boys – Ross Fitzgerald and Ian McFadyen. Ross Fitzgerald AM is …