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Brisbane News
Tim Ferguson is, inadvertently, a bit of a prophet. He discovered this while writing his first novel, Left, Right and Centre. Tim, the self confessed "good looking one" from the now defunct comedy trio Doug Anthony Allstars, says some of his political and social satire started to become reality as he wrote. "There are lots of things in the book I'd be writing and I'd say to myself, 'Oh this is too ridiculous', and then it'd start happening," he says. "The idea of mining Uranium in Kakadu, for example. Then, next thing I knew, the government was doing it...something so stupid, wild, crazy, wacky and offensive... all of a sudden it starts happening.
"The absorption of the Democrats into the Labour party is another thing in the book. Then a week after it hits the shelves, it starts happening." Political commentator senator Graham Richardson describes Tim's satire as downright frightening. "It scared the pants off me," says Richo. (There's no answer to that.) Meanwhile, Tim is wary of his own Nostradamus-like powers.
"I'm glad I didn't predict the end of the world," he laughs. We know he doesn't take this too seriously. At least, we think we know that. Bit of a joker our Tim, which makes him a good lunch companion. I'm lunching with him this day at Bretts Wharf Seafood Restaurant. In town for a conference appearance, he's happy to take an hour or two out of his schedule to talk up his recent book which he believes, the "Chardonnay-swilling, cappuccino-quaffing literary trendies" will probably hate and ignore.
They shouldn't because it contains more than the odd laugh. And well it should. After all Tim is married with three children and lives in the Melbourne suburb of Reservior, spent 10 years as a cutting-edge comedian with pals Paul McDermott and Richard Fidler as the Doug Anthony Allstars, latterly know as DAAS. The trio delighted in offending and entertaining audiences everywhere and became a cult hit. The party finished for the boys a couple of years ago and all three of them have gone on to successful solo careers.
Tim hitched his star to Channel 9's wagon and hosted the zany game show Don't Forget Your Toothbrush. Much of his time lately has, of course, been spent at the word processor churning out his novel, the story of the rise and rise of an enigmatic fictional figure called Luther Langbene. And the Book, which portrays a country in turmoil, is pretty damn timely, considering the state of things at the moment. Some of it is, of course, wildly improbable .. or is it? For example, in his yarn Britain becomes a republic first, leaving us to follow suit.
"Not as far fetched as you might think," says Tim. "Last year 38 per cent of Britons said they thought the monarchy and the peerage should be dismantled, and now they've got a Labour government. Whether you agree with a republic or not, you have to consider the possibility, however ludicrous it may seem, that the Brits will become a republic and we'll be left standing waving Union jacks with John Howard, looking a bit silly."
Tim will wait and let the people decide on that one, though leaving politics to the politicians. He has no inspirations in that area, though he did once run against Andrew Peacock for the seat of Kooyong. His Platform? "Free beer for every man, woman and child in Australia," he says proudly. He got 3,500 votes.
He's hoping for more readers. Left Right and Centre, by Tim Ferguson. (Penguin Books, $16.95)
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