Paulie Stewart: All the Rage

by Paulie Stewart

This is an intriguing memoir by Paulie Stewart, a much-loved rock singer, newspaper journalist and social activist whose life story spans an unusually broad swathe of modern Australian life...

Written when Paulie was facing the risk of an early death due to drug and alcohol-induced liver failure, the book helped him to realise the extent to which his whole life, including his often self-destructive behaviour, were shaped by the teenage trauma of losing his brother Tony, the 21-year-old HSV7 newsman who was one of the Balibo Five murdered by Indonesian forces in East Timor in 1975.

A long-term campaigner for East Timorese independence, Paulie is convinced that a chance encounter with a Timorese nun as he lay in what could have been his deathbed at the Austin Hospital in 2007 played a role in his almost miraculous rescue the next day by a liver transplant.

This 'bad boy' of Australian rock and roll has since then devoted himself to social activism and community work ranging from fund-raising for nuns who care for disabled children in Timor-Leste through to helping street kids and refugees get their own lives on track through new careers as musicians and performers.

- Peter Wilson (former Australian Journalist of the Year)

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

405 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2022

Reviews

[Martin Ramsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a book written with a great sense of honesty and a great sense of responsibility. Paulie Stewart is a man who has lived a life of excess but he is also a man on a mission out to set right the wrongs of the world. And the death of his brother Tony, executed by Indonesian troops in Dili, shaped his irreverent attitude and desire for the truth. Paulie Stewart has integrity and rather than becoming a bigot, he questions his own prejudices about the Mormons, the Catholic Church and Indonesian people. He recognises his own shortcomings and sees the good in others.

Whilst Stewart has enjoyed success with Painters and Dockers and used his profile in bands like Dili All Stars to benefit others, as a journalist he has interviewed many of those in the business who have become household names. Fascinatingly he asks Nick Cave if, having collaborated with Kylie Minogue, he would consider a collaboration with The Wiggles? From anyone else this might have seemed a piss-take but somehow you get the feeling Stewart meant it seriously… that and his growing appreciation for the power of prayer which they both share.

A survivor of organ transplant Stewart describes the unlikely backstory to the operation:
“I woke in the hospital late at night to find a little nun in a blue and white habit sitting on the end of my bed. I thought I was hallucinating again… I noticed that she was dark-skinned.
‘Where are you from Sister?’ I asked.
‘A little country called Timor-Leste,’ she said.” (265)

Whilst Stewart is convinced that there are larger forces at work like prayer involved in the ultimate success of his operation he has an awareness of the privilege that comes with being a white, middle-aged male:
“It struck me that being a white Australian was a major gift as the same condition would probably have killed me if I had been born in Timor-Leste, or as a black-fella in the Top End.” (268)

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not your typical rock'n'roll memoir. While Stewart's tenure in the Painters and Dockers is adequately covered, the lion's share of the book is dedicated to his social activism, notably his support for Timor L'Este, the place where his brother was murdered. The range of charitable causes that Stewart has dedicated himself to, despite serious health issues of his own, is deeply impressive. Sometimes it seems that almost any chance encounter is enough to send this modern Don Quixote onto another windmill.

If the book has flaws they would be that there is an impression of heavy name-dropping. It could also have done with a much better editing job, with several names and organisations cited wrongly.

[Don Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much-loved rock singer and journo Paulie Stewart was staring down death due to liver failure when he decided to write this book - and thank God he did. It's a wonderful story of how the trauma of losing his brother, Tony, when he was murdered by Indonesian troops in East Timor in 1975, led Paulie to become a long-term campaigner for East Timor's independence. That led to Paulie devoting himself to such activism as helping street kids and refugees get their lives on track. But it's more than just a story of social campaigns. Paulie weaves a great tale of life in the world of newspapers and rock stars. Grab a copy today!

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part rollicking rock n’ roll read with many laugh out loud moments as you would expect from the author being in a band that wrote and performed songs such as Nude School and You’re going home in the back of a divvy van. The book is also a generous sharing of the story of Paulie’s brother Tony’s murder (along with four journalists and news people - Balibo Five) by the occupying Indonesian military in Balibo, East Timor. The impacts and reverberations of the brutality profound and ongoing and include on a personal level Paulie living a kamikaze lifestyle. Paulie’s commitment to the people of East Timor is huge. Read all about it in this book.

[Abs dall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up after hearing the Paulie interview on ABC Conversations. Like the interview, this book is entertaining and as someone who was not born and bread in Melbourne, the names and place references helped me understand the city somewhat more. The solidarity shown by Paulie as well as the Timorese people featured in the book was an education on life long friendship and partnership.

[Chris Wigg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love journaling as therapy - thanks for sharing your reflections on death, life, and near-death. And loved hearing about your penance - keep up the good work with the Alma nuns.

[Vannessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good fun with poignant moments - also a good record of past and ongoing solidarity activities between Australians and Timor-Leste/East Timor.