Melbourne author and actor, William McInnes, will deliver an Australia Day Address about being Australian on Thursday 17 January.

The multi-award winning actor has starred in Australian television series and films,  including Blue Heelers, Sea Change, Look Both Ways, Kokoda and Curtin.  

McInnes has authored six books including the memoirs’, A Man’s Got to Have a Hobby and That’d Be Right. His Book and subsequent documentary, The Making of Modern Australia, is an insight into Australian life since the 1940s.

He co-wrote, Worse things happen at Sea, a celebration of family life with his wife, the celebrated filmmaker Sarah Watt.  "The book has the idea that if you just take stock and count what you do have (rather than what you don't have) most of the time you realise you're pretty blessed”, he says. (News Ltd April 4 2012)

His latest novel, The Laughing Clowns, is about discovering what is important in life. It is a typically Australian story that conveys our unique culture and humour.

McInnes is the Chair of the Advisory Council of the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, which aims to promote the importance of democratic values and civics education. He is also on the Australia Day Victoria Committee.