Books and blokes with Kerry O’Keefe

With a record-breaking crowd and laughs a-plenty, Kerry O’Keeffe thoroughly entertained all who attended the Term 1 Books & Blokes Breakfast. Kerry spoke about his test career, his 20 years in the wilderness and how the writing of his first book ‘According to Skull’ and being called up to commentate the 2001 test series, gave him the rebirth he desperately needed.

After his retirement in 1981, he drifted for 20 years. At the age of 53, he decided to sit down and write ‘According to Skull’ with no intention of publishing and said this book saved his life. It sold out within 5 days and a much larger print run ordered.

The writing of this book opened his world to reading and he now regularly reads many sports biographies. He challenged the audience to write their own story saying, “we all have a book in us” and “we should not die with the music in us but get the music down on paper for the others to read, even if it is only your family”.

His many stories about his days on the Australian test side and his years in commentary brought raucous laughs from the audience and took many back to memorable moments listening to Kerry. He encouraged the audience to embrace test match cricket and to take the time to go to the games.