His topic will be "Hamilton Hume, our greatest explorer” based on his latest book of the same name.

Robert began work as a journalist with the Courier Mail in Brisbane before transferring to The Age in Melbourne and then The Canberra Times.

In 1967 he became the Press Secretary to John McEwen, the Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Country Party and, for a short period, the Prime Minister following the unexpected death of Harold Holt.

During a stint in Philippines at the Asian Development Bank he began to write both fiction and non-fiction.

After being awarded the Commonwealth Writer’s Fellowship, he returned to Australia in 1975 and thus began a prolific writing career.

His novel Juryman was adapted to the film Storyville starring James Spader and Jason Robards in 1994.

He has written sixteen books and co authored six books with Peter Thompson.

Robert is a graduate of the screen writing course of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School and as result has written and directed documentary films in 32 countries of Asia and the South Pacific. 

With this address Robert hopes to bring to life some of the drama of the earliest years of New South Wales and the character of Hamilton Hume, whose name is all to familiar on the Highway.

Hume’s bushmanship, his knowledge and understanding of the Aboriginal people and his Australian birth set him apart from the English explorers.

His ability to lead settlers away from the unpleasant surrounds of Sydney Town to the vast fertile plains provided the wealth to sustain the new nation. 

Robert will be available to sign copies of his book following his address, which will be a most interesting and informative talk.

Tickets will be $45 and are available by contacting Sally Delaney on 0413 274 472.