Books by Tony Thomas

This is the third collection of Tony Thomas’s best work. It ranges from zany travels in the PNG Highlands to a reporter’s career highlights and lowlights since he first opened a shorthand notebook in 1958. With his solid knowledge of the global warming controversies, he mocks the absurdities in essays like “Eaten by a tiger? Blame climate change” and “Green lunacy at the Parkville Asylum” i.e. Melbourne University.You’ll love his affectionate spoofing of air hero Biggles, Germaine Greer and an unlikely Rotarian, Richard Sorge, who was Stalin’s spy in Tokyo. Tony also lays bare a catastrophic Perth dinner party pitting drug-fuelled author Xavier Herbert against future Governor-General Paul Hasluck and author Mary Durack.His long-researched pieces involve the disastrous 15 months in office of an alcoholic vice-regal couple at WA’s Government House, and Prime Minister Menzies’ support for economy-wide price-fixing cartels (Tony was personally involved in both sagas). Quirky, wide-ranging, packed with insights … here’s a collection to savour. 

Tony's pieces are an absolute tonic. That's because Tony himself is full of such palpable energy, empathy, a relentless ear for hilarity and irony, and most importantly boundless curiosity. The people he meets tumble out joyously - like wrestler Gorilla Monsoon, Mod-girl concert screamers, Perth's last Chinese market gardener, Manjimup axe-men and poignantly and bravely, the daughter aged three he abandoned -- Rowan Callick, for five years China correspondent of The Australian. The origins of a treasure -- and Tony is very much that -- are often as interesting as the glittering hoard itself. In this collection of his youthful Perth reporting are all those rare qualities that make him exceptional: curiosity, wit, a flair for language and above all and always, a passion for truth. -- Roger Franklin, Editor, Quadrant OnLine Tony's quirky vignettes of life in the 1960s are unique entertainment --- a cheerful expedition across unexpected bits of not-so-old WA from Kalumburu to Yarloop ...-- Robert Murray, author of The Making of Australia (2014) and a dozen histories

This book of 45 essays - ranging from purely humorous to politically and socially grave - provides samples of the lifetime's work of a trained journalist of 60 years' professional standing. Thomas was a prominent writer for The West Australian (1958-69); The Age as Economics Writer from the Canberra Press Gallery, (1971-79); and BRW Magazine from inception in 1981 to his retirement in 2001, including a decade as Associate Editor. He is currently a prolific contributor to Quadrant Monthly and Quadrant OnLine. Thomas' interests, particularly in the political, stem from his early childhood indoctrination into Communism, followed by an adult reaction towards conservatism. Suffice to say he has ink and politics in his veins.