Mick Colliss

Mick Colliss is a gifted story teller with a very funny story to tell. As a young kid growing up, his dream was to play for Australia. But he quickly discovered desire is no substitute for ability. Then finally, at the age of 42, after successive failures at cricket, rugby league, rugby union, surf lifesaving and lawn bowls, he discovers the game of sudoku. He can’t play that either.

But it doesn’t stop him picking himself and three mates from rugby in the first ever Australian Sudoku team and traveling to India to compete for his country at the World Sudoku Championships.

Mick’s is a laugh out loud true story about mateship, having a go and never giving up, no matter what the odds. It’s ideal for corporate, sports and school functions.

Clients who have enjoyed his inspiring and very Australian yarn include Telstra, McDonalds, Pandora, Zurich Insurance, Mazda, ANZ, Optus, Engineers Australia, the Australian Rugby Union, Hockey Australia and Aquinas College. He has spoken right across Australia as well as in Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, China, Vietnam, Singapore and PNG.

A modern day poet, Mick Colliss writes poetry people can understand and has established a wide following as a result.

He has recited his work on Channel 7, Channel 10, ABC, 6PR and 2UE and had it published in The Sydney Morning Herald, The Sunday Times, The West Australian, Australian Rugby News and Rugby League week.

SMH columnist and best selling author Peter FitzSimons voted one piece ‘Sports Poem of the Year’ in 2002.

He has written and recited poetry in Sydney, Perth and Asia for numerous sports and corporate organisations including the West Coast Eagles, Emirates Western Force, the West Australian Cricket Association, the SAS Resources Trust, WA Football Commission, Australian Rugby Union, Extract Resources, Ronald McDonald House, The Cauliflower Club and the WA Olympic Committee.

Mick has published two books of his unique poetry. The first, titled “What Rhymes with Jakovich?” is a collection of sporting verse and covered the sports and characters of rugby union, cricket, AFL and horseracing, among others.

His second book, titled “What Rhymes with Millsy?” consists of a book and live CD and contains the best poems from his weekly ‘Poem in an Hour’ segment on radio 6PR’s Breakfast Show.