PAULIE Stewart has a lot of stories to tell, and he is heading to Frankston Library this week as part of AusMusic Month for an afternoon of tales and music.
Stewart, perhaps best known as frontman of the infamous Painters & Dockers, will shares stories from his tell-all memoir All the Rage accompanied by a guitarist bringing the soundtrack to his incredible journey.
From an angry young man reeling from the loss of his older brother; one of the Balibo 5 journalists murdered in East Timor in 1975, Stewart fell into music, and became synonymous with the irreverence that was the Painters and Dockers. A band that unapologetically put the Australian music scene on notice.
Stewart has had a life of breadth, with some challenges; formed by his experiences.
“Times have changed so much,” said Stewart. “I really feel for young artists these days.”
“We were lucky, and I guess we still are. When we do a gig these days, it is like a school reunion. All that energy, with 50-year-olds crowd surfing!”.
The loss of his brother was formative for Stewart, who has always believed political activism is an intrinsic part of who he is.
It has manifested with a deep belief in the cause of the Timor-Leste people, that lead to his other famous musical collaboration, The Dilli Allstars.
Closer to home, he is passionate about the cause of indigenous rights and reconciliation.
“It hit me right from the word go,” said Stewart. “Music isn’t just about entertaining a crowd, but it is a platform for sending out a message.”
He believes times have changed, and these days bands are much more careful about courting controversy, but it has never fazed Stewart.
His journey has not been without its challenges. He has carried the enduring burden of losing his brother so senselessly all those years ago and has battled health problems including extensive hospitalisation culminating in a liver transplant in 2007.
There has also been vast recognition of his achievements including being awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2020 for “service to the community, and to the performing arts”.
It was during covid that he decided to put pen to paper and write about his incredible journey. The result was his book “All the Rage”.
His talk at Frankston Library will be, in the words of Stewart, “about everything, really”. An amazing journey of achievement, resilience, with a little sprinkling of mischief.
Paulie Stewart will be at Frankston Library on Sunday, 9 November 2025 | 01:00 PM – 02:30 PM. 60 Playne Street, Frankston.
The event is free but ticketed. Book tickets at: library.frankston.vic.gov.au/Whats-On/Sunday-Session-with-Paulie-Stewart
First published in the Mornington News – 4 November 2025
