Wandrin' Star: Wild Jack Peake of Peakhurst

A collection of stories and sketches about a man who flashed through this world like a rogue 'wandrin' star' on a unique, unplottable trajectory. John (Jack) Peake, a sixth-generation member of the nineteenth-century family that gave its name to the Sydney, Australia, suburb of Peakhurst. He was an avatar for the drinkers, gamblers and workers who frequented that triangle of south-western Sydney bounded by Hurstville, East Hills and Bankstown, from the 1950s until the early 1980s. It might be described as the Brotherhood of the Blue Singlet. Jack was well-known for good reason. A combination of: his imposing physical presence; his unmatched confidence and optimism; his creativity as a spieler and ability to 'sniff out a quid'; his colourful turn of phrase and acerbic sense of humour; his legendary drinking and gambling bouts; his remarkable generosity; and easy-going attitude to the law and morality. With his magnetic character Jack was always at the centre of gatherings of men of his type, often in the local hotel: holding court, his legs spread wide, arms crossed, hands cupping his biceps, akubra hat tilted back. Jack would have made a very effective politician, though hardly a trustworthy one. Despite little education, a gruff mumble of a voice and a limited vocabulary, he had exceptional communication skills. He could have named his own price as a barrister (or 'bush lawyer', perhaps). He could justify the seemingly indefensible. The Nazis on trial at Nuremberg should have sent for him. He could make the most ludicrous scheme seem rational and plausible. These big-picture scenarios of his were conceived for 'Cinemascope' production. But, on those occasions they actually made it out of the starting barrier they usually lost their rider at the first hurdle. The book covers every period of his life, as: a boy and young tearaway around Peakhurst and Hurstville; an up-country rural labourer and circus driver; post-war spieler and 'midnight removalist'; short-term navy recruit; partly 'broken-in' husband and father around Panania & East-Hills in the '60s and '70s; 'Boat Harbour Jack' in the Port Stephens district