Catalpa Rescue a thrilling WA tale

The launch of Peter FitzSimons latest novel The Catalpa Rescue was held in Rockingham on Monday, marking the location where the daring escape took place 143 years ago.

Launched by Premier and Member for Rockingham Mark McGowan, the function room at the Hotel Clipper was packed with fans of FitzSimons, who lapped up his enthusiastic re-telling of some of the stand-out parts of the rescue detailed in his book.

Having now written 31 books, many detailing periods or events throughout Australia’s history, FitzSimons said he had dedicated his latest to John Devoy, who helped hatch the plans to aid the six Fenians escape from the shores of Rockingham.

Speaking during the launch, FitzSimons said writing the book had been an “honour”, and expressed his excitement at the tales emerging from Western Australia.

“You generate the best stories in the world. There will never be a better story than the Batavia, but the story of the Catalpa comes very close,” he said.

The Catalpa Rescue is released today and is available locally from Rockingham Books.

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