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Global Readers : Author John Williamson-Noble reads Fergus Ferry stories to our young readers


We initially created #GlobalReaders for families in lockdown. It was so popular we are expanding the range of stories for young global Australian readers. These stories are created by John Williamson-Noble.

John Williamson-Noble is the creator of the Fergus Ferry series which he wrote in the early 2000s for his five-year-old son Tom. The stories are inspired by John’s commute on the Rose Bay ferry and based on real experiences on Sydney harbour. Written in rhyming couplets, the books feature colourful illustrations from Peter Townsend, who previously worked on Bananas in Pyjamas. So far, over 60,000 copies of the picture books have reached children. The books are now also available for a digital audience in the form of a mobile app and animations. He hopes to see Fergus Ferry turned into a stage show. “I would love to see a stage show of Fergus. But I don’t know who I need to talk to about that,” he said.

John Williamson-Noble is the author of the Fergus Ferry series which he wrote in the early 2000s for his five-year-old son Tom. The stories are inspired by John’s commute on the Rose Bay ferry and based on real experiences on Sydney harbour. Written in rhyming couplets, the books feature colourful illustrations from Peter Townsend, who previously worked on Bananas in Pyjamas. So far, over 60,000 copies of the picture books have reached children. The books are now also available for a digital audience in the form of a mobile app and animations. He hopes to see Fergus Ferry turned into a stage show. “I would love to see a stage show of Fergus. But I don’t know who I need to talk to about that,” he said.

John has been a partner at law firm Gilbert + Tobin’s Corporate Advisory Group since 1995.


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