Aussie star shines a light on Aussie lingo

AUTHOR and actor William McInnes returns to the region for the Byron Writers Festival (August 9-11) with his new book Yeah, Nah!

From “bunging it on” to “behaving like a drongo”, or the author’s personal favourite “head like a sucked mango”, there is an expression for any occasion in this collection of reveries.

Famous for his many film, television and theatre roles, McInnes has notched up 13 books in his career, including bestsellers A Man’s Got to Have a Hobby, Cricket Kings, That’d Be Right, The Making of Modern Australia, and co-written with his late wife, Sarah Watt, Worse Things Happen at Sea.

The highly accomplished actor has played countless roles and holds almost as many awards and nominations.

He is known for dozens of compelling characters from the earlier SeaChange through to the more recent The Newsreader which recently wrapped production of the third series.

In Yeah, Nah!, McInnes reflects on our way of life and his take on the colourful and colloquial way Australians have with words.

Part memoir, part manifesto, the book is a witty exchange with poignancy and laugh-out-loud moments in the author’s trademark style.

McInnes told this masthead that he felt the Aussie vernacular deserved a book.

“The way we communicate is unique and highly entertaining,” he said.

“It’s a lot of fun to write about how creative we have been, are, and always will be with words.”

The author will appear in two BWF panel sessions and a feature event, Better Off Said: Eulogies for the Living and Dead, on a panel that includes Jim Moginie from Midnight Oil.

McInnes is characteristically gruff about his popularity and perennial appeal, particularly in this region.

“I’ve no idea, but I assumed I was paid a compliment at a book signing recently when a woman said to me, ‘If Humphrey B. Bear could talk, he’d sound just like you’. Is that a compliment? It could have been worse.

“I’m just a bumbling boofhead, and I suppose that is familiar to people,” he said.

“It’s always nice to get out and about. And if people remember who you are, that’s a plus.

“I’m also looking forward to a couple of beers at the Bangalow pub.”

For more information, head to byronwritersfestival.com