Red Bilby

Shaun Micallef has kindly written the following forewards for my upcoming children’s book on the life and times of Hugh Jedd.

Option 1:

“Michael Chanter is a very clever fellow. He once fooled me into thinking he was an American courier who was beaten up by Bill Murray and been given ten thousand dollars compensation. He even got me to feel the lump on the back of his head (which didn’t exist). I don’t know who he really is. But he does seem to be a fine children’s author judging by the book you’re holding in your trembling hands. Don’t read this foreword; turn to the pages he’s written- now. Don’t read this bit either. I’ve finished. I mean, they told me to fill the page up but please just skip over it. Go on.(He’s a fantasist. And a damn fine one).”

- Shaun Micallef

Option 2:

Michael Chanter and I met in the Vietnam War. We were fighting on opposite sides, but one Christmas the strangest thing happened. At the stroke of dawn it started to snow and the Viet Cong came out of their caves and gave us all puddings and presents. I took the opportunity to pick a few of them off from a tree. But there was one Viet Cong I didn’t shoot. He had made a bicycle for me out of his own hair. I wept as I rode it and still do to this day. (The chain keeps catching my socks and it strangles my ankle) I’m glad I let him live because otherwise we might not have seen this wonderful book.

- Shaun Micallef