Author talk with Rod Halsted

Next date: Wednesday, 11 March 2026 | 01:00 PM to 02:30 PM

A true Aussie larrikin Rod Halsted has lived a life most wouldn't dare to imagine. From the cattle yards of regional Australia to the mines of Kalgoorlie and onto the criminal underbelly of Sydney, adventure always finds Rod, and he loves to take a risk. Rod drank with Bob Hawke, did business with drug tsars, was rescued from the nick by Charles Waterstreet, hung with one of the Great Train Robbers, and wrote off endless cars. Then it all caught up with him. He has long since abandoned the drugs and conquered his alcohol addiction.

Rod lives in Albury, NSW. Published by Allen & Unwin, ‘Take My Advice, I’m Not Using It!’ is as much a confession as it is a celebration of resilience and his storytelling crackles with life —cheeky, gritty, and deeply human. Rod’s author talks wind through the world of crime and corruption in Australia in the 70s and 80s as he recounts his wild adventures and hard-earned lessons. With Australia's long-standing fascination for real stories of rebellion and atonement, Rod’s candid memoir is striking a chord with readers hungry for truth and a fair bit of mischief.