Peter FitzSimons: Bandana, Weight Loss, and Books

Few Australian public figures manage to reinvent themselves as many times as Peter FitzSimons, whose trajectory from rugby field to bookshelf, newsroom to political stage is anything but predictable. This article unpacks the man behind the bandana: his life, weight loss, writing, and outspoken views.

Nationality: Australian ·
Occupation: Author, journalist, radio and TV presenter ·
Known For: Bestselling non-fiction writer, former Wallabies rugby union player ·
Born: 29 June 1961

Six facts that define the man:

Who is Peter FitzSimons?

Peter John FitzSimons was born on 29 June 1961 in Sydney and grew up attending Knox Grammar School. He went on to study at the University of Sydney, earning a Bachelor of Arts with a major in government and political science. After working as a financial adviser, he joined the Sydney Morning Herald as a full-time journalist in 1989. Today, the University of Sydney describes him as one of Australia’s best-selling non-fiction authors, and Hachette Australia (publisher) calls him Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer.

• Full-time journalist at Sydney Morning Herald from 1989
• Authored 30 books as of university records
• Chair of the Australian Republic Movement from 2015 to 2022

What is Peter FitzSimons most famous for?

He is best known for writing blockbuster non-fiction books on Australian history, biography, and sport. His subjects include Breaker Morant, Burke and Wills, Monash’s Masterpiece, Kokoda, Ned Kelly, and Gallipoli (Hachette Australia (publisher)). The University of Sydney also notes he has written biographies of figures like Nick Farr-Jones, John Eales, Kim Beazley, Les Darcy, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, Nancy Wake, and Sir Douglas Mawson. In 2011 he was named a Member of the Order of Australia for service to literature as a biographer and sports journalist (University of Sydney (archive)).

Why does Peter FitzSimons wear a bandana?

The red bandana has become FitzSimons’s visual trademark. Photographs and television appearances consistently show him wearing one, and the style is so recognisable that Penguin Books Australia (publisher) jokingly notes that his weight-loss book “has nothing to do with wearing a red bandana.” Public speculation often ties the accessory to the hanky code, a system of coloured handkerchiefs used to signal sexual preferences and identities, including LGBTQ+ solidarity. However, FitzSimons himself has not publicly explained the bandana’s origin, leaving its exact meaning open to interpretation.

• Red bandana visible in public appearances; linked to hanky code culture
• Bandana mention in Penguin’s book description confirms it’s a known trait

What does a red bandana mean for gays?

In the hanky code, a red bandana worn on the left generally indicates a top or dominant partner in certain contexts. When worn on the right, it suggests a bottom or submissive role. The code emerged in the 1970s gay leather subculture and is still recognised today. FitzSimons’s choice of red may be coincidental, but it aligns with his public support for LGBTQ+ rights and his progressive activism. Without a direct statement from him, the bandana’s meaning remains a topic of curiosity among fans and commentators.

How did Peter FitzSimons lose weight?

In 2016, FitzSimons told ABC News (Australian public broadcaster) that sustainable weight loss came from cutting out sugar and alcohol. He had reached a peak weight of 152 kilograms before losing about 40 kilograms, according to a Sydney Morning Herald Facebook video (widely shared clip). He later published The Great Aussie Bloke Slim-Down through Penguin Books Australia, a guide aimed at helping “an ordinary bloke” lose weight through practical, no-nonsense advice.

• Cut sugar and alcohol as primary method (ABC News)
• Lost ~40 kg, from 152 kg peak (SMH video)
• Book: The Great Aussie Bloke Slim-Down (Penguin) – aims at chubby men

What are Peter FitzSimons’ political views?

FitzSimons describes himself as an atheist and a Republican. He chaired the Australian Republic Movement from 2015 to 2022, advocating for Australia to sever constitutional ties with the British monarchy. He is a frequent commentator on progressive issues in The Sydney Morning Herald and on television, often taking positions on climate change, social justice, and Indigenous rights. His political commentary is as prominent as his historical writing.

• Progressive, vocal on social justice and republican reform
• Chaired Australian Republic Movement 2015–2022

What are Peter FitzSimons’ most popular books?

With 30 books to his name, FitzSimons covers Australian history, biography, and sport. The University of Sydney and Hachette Australia list his major works. Below is a selection of his bestselling titles:

Timeline

Voices on FitzSimons

“Peter FitzSimons is one of Australia’s best-selling non-fiction authors and a leading public intellectual.”

– University of Sydney (archive record)

“He says sustainable weight loss came from cutting out sugar and alcohol.”

– ABC News (Australian public broadcaster)

“Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer.”

– Hachette Australia (publisher)

The pattern across these voices is consistent: FitzSimons is recognised as a dominant force in Australian non-fiction and a man willing to share personal battles publicly. For a reader deciding whether to pick up one of his books or follow his commentary, the evidence points to a writer who combines deep research with an accessible, emotionally honest style.

For a more comprehensive look at his life and career, you can read a detailed biography of Peter FitzSimons that covers his net worth and rugby background.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Andy Griffiths: Treehouse Author and Children’s Laureate
• Mick Molloy: Partner, Pub, and Comedy Career

For the Australian reader, the choice is clear: engage with FitzSimons as a historian, a weight-loss advocate, or a political agitator—or all three. His legacy will be shaped not by the bandana, but by the breadth of a career that refuses to be boxed in.