People like Robert Barrett

Robert George Barrett (14 November 1942 – 20 September 2012) was a popular Australian author of numerous books, most of them featuring the fictional Australian character Les Norton.

Robert G. Barrett was born and raised in Sydney's Bondi, where he worked mainly as a butcher. He left school at 14 to do a few odd jobs before taking on a trade as a butcher around the eastern suburbs of Sydney. He gave up his trade when a hind of beef fell on him and injured his shoulder. After 30 years he moved to Terrigal on the Central Coast of New South Wales. Robert appeared in a number of films and TV commercials but preferred to concentrate on his writing career.

Just before his death, Robert Barrett disclosed that the character "Les Norton" was based on two likeable Sydney larrikin identities, primarily his friend, Ken Wills (Willsy), a polyathlete who was a retired Sydney TRG/ water police officer, deep sea diver, first grade rugby league player for South Sydney in the mid 70s, a professional boxer and a skiing gold medalist. The other character was amateur boxer turned seaman/waterfront worker, William (Doogza) Davis, an underworld hard man.