Events Kerry O'Brien on 'A Memoir'

The City of Perth Library, UWA Institute of Advanced Studies and Boffins Books, are delighted to present Kerry O'Brien on A Memoir. 

Can't make it? We'll happily have a book signed for you. Call Boffins on 9321 5755 to make your arrangement.

About A Memoir

Walkley award winning ABC journalist, Kerry O'Brien, reflects on social and political upheavals he has witnessed and the personalities who have made history.

'Let me get the really big news out of the way up front…I have never dyed my hair. And it's not a wig. Welcome to the world of television, with pockets of depth, rare brilliant insight but always the threat of superficiality.' Thus begins Kerry O'Brien's much awaited memoir.

Kerry has been speaking to Australia for over fifty years. His is the voice of every significant event in our recent history, of turmoils, upheavals, national and international crises and celebrations.

In journey from the nuclear to the digital age and beyond, Kerry O'Brien has come face to face with the giants of his time-from Mandela to Thatcher, Obama, Bowie and Muhammad Ali. In Australia he has watched twelve prime ministers come and go and has called the powerful to account. Born days after the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, O'Brien is the quintessential post-war baby.

In a ground-breaking but very personal account he reflects on the social and political upheavals he has witnessed, of lessons learned and lessons ignored, and the personalities who have made history all the while sharing some of his own story.

 

About Kerry O'Brien

Kerry O'Brien is one of Australia's most respected journalists, with six Walkley awards including the Gold Walkley and the Walkley for Outstanding Leadership in journalism.

In a 50-year career, Kerry has worked for newspapers, television and wire service, and as a foreign correspondent. Thirty-three of those years have been at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation where he cut his teeth on the trail-blazing current affairs programs This Day Tonight and Four Corners. He was the inaugural presenter of Lateline for six years, the editor and presenter of 7.30 for 15 years, and was the presenter of Four Corners.

His acclaimed four-part interview series with Paul Keating was broadcast on the ABC in 2013, and he has also interviewed most of the influential world leaders of his time including Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama, Mikhail Gorbachev, Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair. And then there was Robert Mugabe.

Kerry has specialised in national politics for the ABC as well as the Seven and Ten television networks, and was a press secretary to Labor leader Gough Whitlam. He has known Paul Keating for 40 years.

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