Four years before the inaugural Tour de France, four cyclists known as 'Overlanders' set out on a race around Australia. On 24 November 1896 a wiry and wily bushman named Arthur Richardson left Coolgardie for Adelaide by bicycle. Carrying only a small kit and a water-bag, he followed the telegraph line. After much 'sweating and swearing' on sandy roads west of Eucla, and enduring the scorching heat, 31 days later he became the first man to pedal across the Nullarbor. But within three years Richardson had set his sights on becoming the first person to ride around the vast island continent, not yet a nation, and some 18,507km. On 5 June, 1899, he left Perth, heading north, carrying no more than a swag and a pistol. It took courage, self-confidence, endurance and resourcefulness to tackle such a ride. Richardson would follow dirt tracks, cattle and camel pads and stars in the night sky as he battled thirst, hunger, exhaustion, crocodile attack and spears from Aboriginal warriors to realize his dream. But he also had competition...another party of cyclists with the same ambition. New Zealand-born Brothers Frank and Alex White and wealthy adventurer Donald Mackay from Wallandbeen Station, NSW, were attempting the ride in a counter-clockwise direction from Melbourne and Brisbane respectively. Set against the fledging pastoralist empires of pre-Federation Australia, Tour de Oz, is the extraordinarily true story of a remarkable race to 'circumcycle' the Australian continent - before we became a nation.

ROCKY: LEADER OF THE WALLABIES is an insightful and revealing look into the rugby union career of one of Australia's greatest Wallabies, Rocky Elsom. "Rocky Elsom is a rugby player of the old school. No frills, lots of spills, and with a will to win that would kill a brown dog. He is an Australian original who is also a hugely admired figure in international rugby." - Peter Fitzsimons "He is prepared to stand up against the tide and inspire others to do the same" Robbie Deans ROCKY ELSOM: LEADER OF tHE WALLABIES is an insightful and revealing look into the rugby union career of one of Australia's greatest Wallabies, Rocky Elsom, as seen through the eyes of the key figures in his life, including family members, team-mates and coaches. From representing Australia at under 16s level to attaining cult status in Ireland and named as the best player in the world, Rocky has exerted the same talismanic influence on the Wallabies that Richie McCaw has had on New Zealand. A rugged individualist, Rocky's biggest task to date will be leading the Australian team for the World Cup in New Zealand in September 2011. "After covering Rocky's career as a journalist for eight years I thought I had a fair idea of him, but I realized I hardly knew him at all. Rocky is like a modern day renaissance Man, a Leonardo da Vinci in studs. Apart from being one of the greatest Wallabies of his generation, Rocky is a musician, a philosopher, an entrepreneur and a pilot just to list a few of his pastimes. Most people enjoy speaking about, even boasting about, their interests, especially if that is landing a rickety two-seater t-Bird sideways on a slippery runway, not Rocky. He rarely talks about it, he just does it." - Bret Harris