Jamberoo 7s brought plenty of fast footy action this weekend, but just outside Fredericks IGA, another type of competition was on display: a battle between justice and power, told through the pages of a new Australian novel.

Solicitor-turned-author Gary Davis was selling copies of Tom Mortimer Pitt Street Bankers, his debut book that delves into the financial dealings that shaped - and in many cases, shattered - lives across Australia.

Davis, a solicitor with first hand experience of the foreign currency loan debacle of the 1980s and 1990s, has crafted a gripping narrative that blends real world insights with fiction.

Tom Mortimer Pitt Street Bankers begins on a dairy farm in 1959 before shifting to Sydney’s elite banking world, culminating in a courtroom battle in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1987. 

The novel examines how financial power brokers influenced the lives of everyday Australians, particularly farmers and small business owners who found themselves at the mercy of complex financial products they did not fully understand.

Speaking at Jamberoo, Davis shared that his motivation for writing the book stemmed from witnessing the tactics banks used against clients who had taken out foreign currency loans, often without fully grasping the risks involved.

“It was eye opening,” he said. “I saw how hard working Australians were left in financial ruin, and I knew it was a story that needed to be told.”

Davis and his wife are currently travelling around Australia to promote the book, sharing its message with communities far and wide. 

The book, released on March 23, 2024, is already drawing attention from readers interested in legal dramas, financial intrigue, and Australian history. I picked up my copy at 11 am, and by 2 pm, Gary had sold most of his books - a clear sign that readers are eager to get their hands on this compelling tale.

Davis hopes that Tom Mortimer Pitt Street Bankers will not only entertain but also educate readers about the banking practices that shaped a tumultuous period in Australian finance.

You can purchase a copy from the Bowral and Kiama Bookshops. For more information visit garydavis.com.au.

Whether you are a fan of legal thrillers or keen to understand the financial history that shaped Australia’s small business and farming communities, Davis’s novel offers a compelling read.