Sunday July 6th 2-3pm

Whoever heard of an Irishman named Basil?

Join City of Melville Local History Officer, Michelle Campbell and Basil Hanna AM, to explore the Basil’s journey from an orphanage in Ireland to a nurse at Heathcote Hospital.

Basil's book, Whoever Heard of an Irishman Named Basil, will be available to purchase.

A note from Basil about the book:

I would describe myself as very lucky to be here given my earlier circumstances. I was born in an infamous orphanage in Catholic Ireland to a single girl who I have searched for throughout my life. My early days of life might be described as chaotic or traumatic as I navigated my way through a zealous Irish Catholic family, intent on putting a white collar of the priesthood around my neck. Then, attendance at a seminary boarding school where I established my values and the urgent need for testosterone release, closely followed by learning how to survive in the heart of war-torn Northern Ireland with a Mancunian accent. I then found myself in a mental health institution in London interacting with a large gay population.

This book will take you on an adventure through my childhood and adolescence within environments that could be defined as unique, at times terrifying, comical, unpredictable and described in a somewhat eclectic comical manner. Did I find my biological mother?

‍