HIGHS AND LOWS OF COL’S LIFE

FAMED comedian Col Elliott was one of the many doing their bit to help at the Drought Angels — except that Col was funnier. Like most of us he has a tale to tell and has done so with a remarkably readable autobiography, In Between the Laughter, detailing his life and times. From a Ten Pound Pom to joining the Navy and serving in Vietnam, it hasn’t all been laughter and glamorous gigs. Perhaps the most surprising item in the book is that Col was part of the rescue team that was called into service when HMAS Melbourne cut in half the USS Frank Evans. It was an awful chapter of Australia’s maritime history with 74 men perishing at sea.