Environmental enthusiast and author Simon Cleary returns to Toowoomba City Library for meet and greet

In author Simon Cleary’s latest book the Toowoomba-born writer recounts his courageous journey along the length of the Brisbane river in the wettest May on record.

UQP Portrait - Simon Cleary 2023. Picture-Patrick Hamilton

Carrying just a backpack and the principle of staying “within sight and sound of the river”, Toowoomba-born author and environmentalist Simon Cleary embarked on a 344km pilgrimage along the Brisbane River in 2022.

It was this journey that drove the Toowoomba-born author’s most recent book Everything is Water.

This non-fiction book follows Mr Cleary’s story, from the little unnamed Toowoomba creek he played in as a kid, to the diverse communities and experiences of people living along the expansive river.

Simon Cleary on the pilgrimage along the Brisbane River.

“The river has so many lives before it arrives in Brisbane and the book gathers the stories and wisdom of people I met along the way,” he said.

“What was originally planned as a walk along a river bed and learning about the river, its ecosystems, and its communities, then became a journey of dealing with the elements, and dealing with torrential rain.

“It was extraordinary to learn about the flooding of the river, even if it was the hard way.”

Mr Cleary said growing up in Toowoomba surrounded by beautiful nature was his motivation for undertaking the challenging 27-day walk through floodwater and torrential rain.

Simon Cleary on the pilgrimage along the Brisbane River.

At times the weather and flooding were so extreme that Mr Cleary had to take shelter at homestays and cabins.

“When the rain was at its most torrential it was impossible to continue walking and at one point I had to hole up in a cabin for four days waiting for the floodwaters to subside,” Mr Cleary said.

Along the way Mr Cleary was joined by Indigenous cultural historians, hydrologists, environmental professionals and even family members, who each helped him through the journey.

He said the strongest inspiration for the book was having grown up playing in the creeks at the very start of the watershed.

“I’d like readers to come on the journey of exploring the length of the Brisbane River and come to appreciate how essential rivers are to our own existence and how important it is that we protect them,” he said.

Mr Cleary will return to his hometown to speak at Toowoomba City Library on November 20 in Conversation with David Iliffe.

The event starts at 5.30pm and tickets are available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meet-simon-cleary-in-conversation-with-david-iliffe-tickets-1064079172449.