There were no spare seats at Orange City Library on Wednesday when he gave an author talk on the release of his latest book Eureka: The Unfinished Revolution.

In fact, he drew one of the biggest crowds for a book launch in some time.

Mr FitzSimons regaled the audience with tales of his experiences writing autobiographies of some of Australia’s best known personalities, sportsmen, politicians and war heroes.

However when it came to the topic of the Australian flag and the Eureka flag, he was equally as passionate, telling the crowd comedian Jerry Seinfeld once told him our flag was “like England at night.”

He spoke of being inspired by writers Gary Smith and David Duval and their writing style, which brings a story to life.

Mr FitzSimons said he would like the issue of an Australian flag to be on the consciousness of all Australians and said the Eureka flag was a strong image worth considering.

“Look at the American Flag for instance and the story behind it,” he said.

“That’s when I started looking at the Eureka flag and thinking of the great Australian story behind it.

“I think we need that type of story to make our own flag live and breathe.”

Mr FitzSimons also spoke of the Eureka protest as a snapshot of what was happening on a wider scale in several European countries in the 1800s.

“It was happening right across Europe at the same time,” he said.

Mr Fitzsimons’ author talk was sponsored by Orange City Library and Collins Booksellers.

janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au