Ron Iddon

Ron Iddon (1940- ) is a documentary film maker and writer, was born in Sydney, Australia, and attended Fort Street High School and Wagga Agricultural College.

Ron is probably best known in Australia for his work as reporter and director on the long-running ABC television documentary series, “A Big Country”. After leaving the ABC he became an independent film-maker, creating some 20 more documentaries: “Peppimenarti” was nominated for Best Documentary in the annual Australian Film Institute Awards.

In the 1970s and 1980s he co-wrote three best-selling non-fiction books: “A Big Country” Nos 1 and 2 (with John Mabey), and “The Stockman” (with Mary Durack, Marie Mahood, R. M. Williams et al).

He has also written many short stories, two of them recently winning in national literary competitions. “The Short Stories of Ron Iddon---The Murray River Collection” was published on-line in December 2011, and his “The Queensland Collection” early in 2012.

Ron has had several other developed interests besides writing. As president of the Australian Trail Horse Riding Association during the 1970s, he was greatly involved in mapping and establishing the Bicentennial Trail, which runs from Melbourne to Cooktown. He has been a breeder of stud beef cattle (Santa Gertrudis) and was co-owner of a merino sheep breeding property in western Queensland. He has an interest in antiques, especially early Australian furniture, and has acquired skills in restoring them.

For the past few years he has concentrated on writing fiction, particularly in the short story form, and has also gained qualification to tutor in literacy.

He lives in Toowoomba, Queensland and is currently working on his third collection of short stories.