StoryShare: Sporting Pioneer Tom Wills

Join us as local biographer Greg de Moore shares the story of Tom Wills - flawed genius, sporting libertine, fearless leader and agitator, and Australia's first great cricketer. He is also the man most often credited with creating the game we now know as Australian Rules football.
Tom Wills lived hard and fast, challenging authority on and off the field. But when his physical talents began to fade, the psychological demons that alcohol and adrenaline had kept at bay surged to the fore.

Greg de Moore has carefully pieced together Tom's life, giving us an extraordinary portrait of one of Australia's first sporting heroes, a man who lived by his own rules and whose contribution to Australian history has endured for more than 150 years.

Greg’s books will be available for purchase at the conclusion of the talk.

About the Author:

Greg de Moore is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry based at Sydney's Westmead Hospital. Born in Melbourne of parents who migrated to Australia from Sri Lanka, Greg has lived in Sydney for more than 30 years. He has written and co-written four books —Tom Wills (shortlisted for the National Biography Award 2009), A National Game: The History of Australian Rules Football, Finding Sanity: John Cade, Lithium and the Taming of Bipolar Disorder and Australia's Game: The History of Australian Football.

About StoryShare:

StoryShare offers engaging talks sharing the skills, journeys, and interests of inspiring creators and personalities from the local community. Inspire your world and share their story.

About the Event:

Cost: Free

Age: 16+

Georges River Libraries strive to create lifelong learning by informing, inspiring and engaging the community through a range of programs, activities and events to support literacies and foster community connection, for all ages including children and adults. The libraries host workshops and events throughout the year to ignite curiosity through different topics. Are you looking to expand your knowledge of digital technologies or learn a new hobby or creative skill? Join one of our expert-led workshops and seminars on DIY skills, craft, photography, music, sound recording, digital video, graphic design, and new technologies like virtual reality, artificial intelligence and more. You can develop new skills and inspire your world at your library. Library programs for adults run from February to November during the school term. Further details can be found on the library’s Programs and Events webpage. For further information, please contact the Library Programs Team on (02) 9330 6111 or email [email protected].

Accessibility Information:

Georges River Libraries is committed to providing inclusive library services and programs. Please email [email protected] or note down your requirements or support needs in your event registration.

Terms and conditions:

• For participants under the age of 16, parents and/or guardians of children must remain in the library for the duration of the program.
• If you arrive more than 10 minutes after the advertised start time and there are people in the standby queue, your ticket may be allocated to the standby queue.
• If you are unable to attend, please cancel your registration at least 3 hours prior to the event. As Library Programs have limited spaces, repeated failure to notify staff of cancellations may result in bookings being refused in the future.
• The library does not endorse or promote any products which may be used in the workshop.

Host or Publisher Georges River Libraries