Peter FitzSimons - Fundraising Event

20/2/2006

Former Australian rugby international, turned sports journalist and author, Peter Fitzsimons, entertained and delighted crowds in both Dunedin and Wanaka in February.

The Foundation invited Peter to Otago and his hilarious tales from his days on and off the field mixed with equally amusing digs at the All Blacks - past and present - provided the perfect early-year entertainment at both venues.

Fitzsimons, the first Wallaby rugby player sent off against the All Blacks - he achieved that infamy in 1992 - is a highly regarded sports writer for the Sydney Morning Herald and his knowledge and passion for the game was evident during his addresses.

He is also a brilliant writer with his books Nancy Wake and Kokoda seeing him the top-selling non-fiction author in Australasia in 2001 and 2004. He is currently working on Tobruk, a massive tome on the North African desert campaign which pitted New Zealand and Australian forces against the legendary Rommel.

Peter was a quick-witted speaker who had the crowds in Dunedin and Wanaka in rapture as he regaled them with his side-splitting take on All Black rugby, which included his terrifying ordeal playing against the legendary Buck Shelford.

Images from Peter's Dunedin address in the Lion Foundation Arena (Edgar Centre) can be viewed here and purchased at seenindunedin.co.nz