ABOUT THE EVENT:

The Natural differs from others in the sporting genre because it is not simply the chronicling of one man’s outstanding sporting achievements. This biography also acknowledges the human side that comes with these sporting pursuits, both emotionally uplifting and equally despairing.

On Wednesday 26th March at The Royal Oak, Balmain, join Brendan Morris and Stephan Wellink in conversation with Tim Ayliffe.

Copies of The Natural will be available for purchase at the venue through Roaring Stories, with Morris and Wellink signing copies after the discussion.

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ABOUT THE VENUE

Attendees are asked to arrive at 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Seating is unallocated – another reason to arrive early to secure an optimal spot. Why not make a full evening of it, too, by ordering a meal at the Royal Oak before or after the event? One of Balmain's oldest and most loved pubs, it serves a delicious range of food and beverages.

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ABOUT THE BOOK

Richard ‘Dick’ Thornett was a sporting prodigy and the unique skills he showed as a schoolboy were demonstrated to even greater effect when he reached adulthood. Set against the backdrop of the 1960s, Richard, the youngest of three brothers, was a world class sportsman. In the years 1960 at the age of 19 through to 1963 at the age of 22, Richard represented Australia in Water Polo at the Rome Olympics, toured with the Wallabies to South Africa and New Zealand alongside his brother John, and with brother Ken, he contributed mightily to the historic success of 1963/64 Kangaroos. While The Natural is about the life and times of Richard Thornett, his brothers are woven into the fabric of the narrative by virtue of their strong bond in sport and life. Wherever Richard arrived, his impact was immediate, positive and significant. He had an X-Factor that thrust his sporting context forward to all with whom he was a part; it was no coincidence that his teams excelled.

This book will appeal to sports lovers and those who are interested to learn about the man behind the legend: Richard Thornett. He was a Goliath in the sporting arena yet flawed at the same time.

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ABOUT BRENDAN MORRIS

Brendan Morris has been a Senior English teacher for over 35 years, having taught his passion to his students from Year 7 to Year 12 Extension. Among other responsibilities in the education sphere, he has been a Boarding Housemaster at his current school for 15 years. Brendan has always had a deep interest in sports, having also competed in and/or coached many since he was a boy, including but not limited to Rugby Union, Football, Basketball, Rowing, Cricket, Athletics, Golf, Surfing, Swimming and Running.

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ABOUT STEPHAN WELLINK

Stephan pursues his passion for filmmaking as a writer, producer and director with Inkwell Films, a company he founded in 2015. His award-winning documentaries have screened at prestigious film festivals, on free-to-air television and subscription streaming platforms in many parts of the world. Stephan’s screen credits include: Rod Taylor: Pulling No Punches (2016), Jerry Lewis: The Man Behind the Clown (2016), Sam Spiegel: Conquering Hollywood (2018), Pushing the Boundaries: The Mavis Bramston Show (2022) and The Sculpture (2023), which was acquired by SBS Australia.

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ABOUT THE HOST

Tim Ayliffe’s thriller novels have been informed by his 25-year career as a journalist in Australia and around the world. He has been the Managing Editor of Television and Video for ABC News and also Executive Producer of News Breakfast. He is the author of the ‘John Bailey’ series including The Greater Good, State of Fear, The Enemy Within, Killer Traitor Spy , which won the BAD Sydney People's Choice Award at the 2024 Danger Awards, and his most recent novel, The Wrong Man. Tim's thrillers are also in development for a major TV series. When he's not writing or chasing news stories, Tim watches rugby and surfs. He lives in Sydney.

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TERMS & CONDITIONS

Refunds

Please note that tickets are non-refundable unless the event is cancelled or postponed due to extenuating circumstances. Refunds are not issued within 48 hours notice of event date. Humanitix fee is nonrefundable.

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This event is presented by Roaring Stories Bookshop Balmain and Fair Play Publishing.

With thanks to our venue partner The Royal Oak.

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Brendan Morris and Stephan Wellink in conversation with Tim Ayliffe

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