Tony Thomas The West - An insider.s tales. A romping reporter in Perth.s innocent .60s

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