‘Little Chop Chop’ all grown up; Chopper Read’s son turns 21
Chopper Read was famously quoted as saying “life in Tasmania is too slow”. But it doesn’t appear that way for his son Charlie, who just had a milestone birthday. See where his life is at and reflections on his dad >>
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CHOPPER Read’s Tasmanian son Charlie is no longer a little boy – now 21 and the spitting image of his dad.
“Little Chop Chop”, as he has been referred to by his friends, is all grown up, works as a tree feller, and still calls Tasmania home.
He’s also a Harley Davidson rider and is connected to the Rebels outlaw motorcycle club.
Charles Vincent Read was born in Hobart during August 1999 to Read and Australian Taxation Officer worker Mary-Ann Hodge, and was raised on a farm in the bucolic serenity of Richmond.
His parents had been married in prison a few years prior in 1995, with the only guest being Chopper’s best man and lawyer – Michael Hodgman QC.
When Charlie came along, he was named after Chopper’s long-time friend, “Mad” Charlie Hegyalji, who was shot dead during Melbourne’s gangland war.
The idyllic family unit fell apart in 2001 when Read decided to move back to Melbourne.
“Life in Tasmania was just too slow,” the notorious underworld figure said at the time.
“I couldn’t handle watching chickens and sheep running around day after day. I left with just the clothes on my back and enough money to get out of Tasmania.”
In 2001, former Mercury journalist and now internationally-renowned author Danielle Wood spoke to Chopper’s dad, Ravenswood man Keith Read, and confirmed the standover man had left Tasmania.
At the time, Charlie was two years old.
Mary-Ann, who was reportedly left both “relieved and heartbroken”, told the Sunday Tasmanian in 2012 that she had moved on from her life as “Mrs Chopper Read” following years of professional counselling.
The earless Chopper died almost seven years ago – on October 9, 2013 – at age 58 after a battle with liver cancer.
He had married a previous girlfriend, Margaret, and had another son – Roy.
The infamous gangster, who notably became an artist and best-selling author with tongue-in-cheek titles like For the Term of his Unnatural Life and How to Shoot Friends & Influence People, left little in his estate with only $15,000 worth of artworks.
While Charlie hasn’t responded to the Mercury’s requests for an interview, his Facebook page paints a picture of a young larrikin with a similar personality to his father.
Earlier this week, Charlie posted a picture of himself as a baby with his dad – receiving hundreds of likes and comments.
“Mate you (sic) dad be proud of you,” one man said.
“His legend will always live on in you brother,” another commenter said.
A woman said: “You never get over the loss of a dad”, while another commented: “Your dad was an awesome man, he used to make me LOL every time I seen (sic) him he was so proud of you and Roy”.
Pictures of Charlie with his Rebels’ friends mention the gang’s catchcry “RFFR” – Rebels Forever, Forever Rebels.
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