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Journalist and broadcaster Jon Faine talks to Cheryl about the legendary siblings Apollo and Thelma and his relationship to them both. His latest book, Apollo and Thelma, is out now.
About the author:
Photo credit: Brendan McCarthy
Podcast: Jon Faine on the Mighty Apollo and Thelma Hawkes
Mark Anderson – Second Son of Apollo
Very disapointed with the end result. It could have been so much better if the wealth of information and documented facts provided in good faith by our family had been handled in a more sincere and accurate manner. There was zero fact checking with us in regard to many of the final published chapters that dealt with our father, certain events and timelines. I only got to fact check and provide feedback with one chapter in the whole publication, but was assured by the author that this was all that applied to us? The rest it would seem was tailored to fit a pre conceived opinion based narrative in favour of final story. A Truly Tall Tale indeed. 😢
Review by Bruce Anderson. Apollo’s 3rd son.
“Never let the truth get in the way of a good story!!”
The cover of this book exhorts it to be a “True Tall Tale” Which is it supposed to be?? Fact or fiction???
As one of Apollo’s three sons I can say with the utmost sincerity that the contents of this book are largely purely fictional, and an absolute load of tripe!!
It’s a self indulgent book about Faine where my dad, aunty Thelma and even the Aboriginal community all have walk on parts in the “Jon Faine Story”?
Sadly for Apollo and Thelma’s remaining family, Faine conveniently and frequently chooses fictional narrative over actual fact, for the very slanted picture he attempts to paint for the sake of an interesting tale, very thinly disguised as an accurate account – according to himself!
Despite his claim, the author was NEVER Apollo’s friend or that of his family? His was a solely a one off business relationship. He was engaged to settle an estate. Nothing more! No more than a plumber called to fix a blocked toilet.
He ingratiated himself upon the surviving family after nearly 30 years of silence with the promise to write a book about our Father; “Something that we as his sons would be very proud to hold”. Sadly, that promise was promptly broken! Much of the book contains pure fiction, misquotes, exaggerations, and complete concoctions! Clearly the author has a very loose relationship with reality and facts!
Faine misses the opportunity to write a very good book. He was given the very best of very private inside information, photos and recollections, straight from the source – Apollo’s very own sons. He exploits that connection to give his book credibility and authenticity. He’s certainly no accurate source of information for our Dad, “The Mighty Apollo”.
In fact, most of the book’s content was withheld from us before publication! “Good will and cooperation” completely vanished once he assumed all the required information obtained from us had been gathered. Not given the right to dispute or correct his many statements before publication as earlier promised and assured that all of our concerns for accuracy had been fully met. We were totally unaware of the poison held within.
Discovering to our horror, only once published that all of our goodwill, trust were completely and utterly betrayed! Many of our very private contributions ignored and or twisted by the author! An arrogant, egotistical “Little Man”, more concerned with telling his often condescending spiteful tale tearing others down, rather than adhering to facts and the truth! Even our father’s funeral isn’t spared his very caustic assessment!
The author constantly promotes himself as a champion for the down trodden, the “under dog” when in fact his actions here would clearly dispute this as a “sham”!!?? He’s much more interested in promoting his own inflated and opinionated ego for self-benefit in the form of his book at expense and distress his work of fiction has and will cause Apollo’s family!
Save your money and don’t buy this excremental fictional book!
Jon Faine gave sons Paul, Mark & Bruce verbal promises & email assurances, that in the writing of a book concerning their family, they would be totally involved in the editing & viewing process from start, to pre publication finish. The sons personal interviews & extensive private archives were to be accessed, their contributions fact checked at all writing stages by themselves.
Faine (1/9/21 email re:final draft) “ will show draft- to see where I f**ked up & if there are any issues you want addressed.”
Faine (11/10/21) “assure I will tell a story that is accurate & fair, one you are proud to associate with”
THIS DID NOT OCCUR, Faine once given interviews & information from the sons, totally went back on his word! *Faine (11/10/21) “I can only show you CH 9 Rohndahe, the one involving you, not allowed to show you the entire book as the publishers are protective”
This chapter was the only one edited of its many mistakes & viewed as a final draft!
As a result, on viewing the printed book, 3 weeks before its release, to our deep dismay & horror, were confronted with the following:
*A BOOK FULL OF FICTIONAL STORY CREATION.
*TOTAL FACTUAL DISREGARD & ERRORS.
* NUMEROUS MISQUOTES OF SONS INTERVIEWS.
*AUTHOR’S UNTRUE PRESENCE IN APOLLO & SON’S LIVES.
*MASSIVE TIME LINE ERRORS.
*KEY FIGURE OMISSIONS.
*BIASED PORTRAYAL OF THELMA, LEAVING FAMILY STORIES,ACCOUNTS OUT.
*DISRESPECTFUL FAILURE TO INFORM SONS OF DEATH DESCRIPTION OF THELMA.
*FAINE AS LAWYER, PUBLISHING SONS WILL AFFAIRS WITHOUT CONSENT.
*UNEDUCATED, DISREGARD & MANIPULATED DESCRIPTION OF APOLLO’S WRITING.
*TOTAL MISUNDERSTANDING OF APOLLO’S FEATS, PERFORMANCES, PRESS BOOKS.
*ABUSIVE & UNQUALIFIED CHARACTER ATTACK ON APOLLO, BASED ON FAINE’S EMBELLISHED, EXAGGERATED MEETINGS, BOTH IN CONTEXT & FREQUENCIES.
Faine & the authors had written a fictional book, the one they wanted. This is a book full of untruths, from Apollo’s gym & living conditions, to even the disrespectful & false account of his & Thelma’s funerals! This is wrong to do this to a family & the heritage of those in the book. Post book release, Faine has shown a total lack of regard towards the family, he continues to make false claims, trivialise, embellish & arrogantly dismiss.