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Known to millions of Australians simply as 'Smithy' Sir Charles Kingsford Smith was one of Australia's true twentieth-century legends. In an era in which aviators were superstars Smithy was among the greatest and throughout his amazing career his fame in Australia was matched only by that of Don Bradman.
Among other achievements Kingsford Smith was the first person to fly across the Pacific he broke the record for the fastest flight from England to Australia and at one point he held more long-distance flying records than anyone else on the planet. If that wasn't enough Smithy was also a war hero receiving the Military Cross for gallantry in action after being shot - and losing three toes - during one of many flying missions during World War I.
Smithy was not the lone adventurer of the skies. Early aviation drew to it a company of daredevils who all challenged gravity and fear.This comprehensive biography written with typical flair by bestselling author Peter FitzSimons covers the triumphs and tragedies of not only Kingsford Smith's daring and controversial life but also those of his companion aviators.
Unfortunately this item is either out of print or no longer available from our regular suppliers, we can no longer obtain stock of this item, and have sold out of stock in our stores. You may be interested in our similar titles below. | ISBN 13: | 9780732284879 |
| ISBN 10: | 0732284872 |
| Binding: | Hardcover |
| Pages: | 608 |
| Dimensions: | 234 x 153mm |
| Released: | 01/06/2009 |
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Peter FitzSimons, born in Peats Ridge, New South Wales, 29 June, 1961, is a former Wallabies rugby union player. He now works as a journalist, author and radio presenter. He has the distinction of being the only Wallaby ever sent from the field against the All Blacks. Following his international career he played with CA Brive in France for 4 seasons, becoming the clubs first ever foreign player.
Based in Sydney, Peter FitzSimons is a sports columnist and writer for The Sydney Morning Herald. FitzSimons also regularly appears on the Australian Foxtel programme, The Back Page, hosted by rugby league journalist Mike Gibson. For the Saturday edition of the Sydney Morning Herald, FitzSimons writes a column titled "The Fitz Files" which looks at all the happenings over the past seven days in sport. He also writes a more general version of the "The Fitz Files" on page two of the Sun-Herald on Sundays, focusing on community activities and events in Sydney.
In 2006 he began co-hosting a breakfast radio program with Mike Carlton on Sydney radio station 2UE. He was brought onto the 2UE breakfast show by management in January 2006 in an attempt to boost the program's dwindling ratings. Mike Carlton was vocal in his opposition to having an on-air partner, but the move immediately paid dividends with an immediate audience increase. However, the "Mike and Fitz" breakfast show still trails a long way behind the current number one program on 2GB, hosted by Alan Jones who coincidentally coached FitzSimons at the Manly rugby club and when he was a Wallaby.[citation needed] FitzSimons was often joined on air by his wife, Nine Network Today Show presenter Lisa Wilkinson.
After two years on Breakfast with Mike and Fitz, Peter FitzSimons hung up the headphones to become a stay at home Dad and focus on his writing. Mike Carlton has thanked Fitz for the "most fun" he's ever had on the radio.
FitzSimons is an established author with such books as Kokoda, which recounts the numerous battles between Australian and Japanese Troops on the Kokoda track during World War II, and biographies of former Australian Labor Party leader Kim Beazley, Nick Farr-Jones, John Eales, Nancy Wake and Steve Waugh. His latest book is Tobruk, which recounts the story of the Rats of Tobruk as they fought during World War II against Italian, then later the Afrika Korps as they were led by then-General Erwin Rommell.
He is married to Today host Lisa Wilkinson, with whom he has three children. He is a former student of Knox Grammar School at Wahroonga, Sydney. His sons Jake and Louis FitzSimons also attend Knox Grammar School.
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