This is a presentation I made to the Sydney Joomla User Group (JUG) in August 2017 on the launch of my website for writers, readers and publishers, Tall And True. The website had been a dream of mine since 2001 and without Joomla and the Sydney JUG it probably would have remained a dream.

1. How Joomla helped me realise my
dream and build a TallAndTrue website
for writers, readers and publishers.
(Jeez, that took a long time!)
Robert Fairhead, Rocher Communications

2. A little bit about me
• Born in 1962, in England - move to Perth when I was 2 yo
• Dinky-di, naturalised Aussie, with dual citizenship
• Trained as an electrician, retrained as a computer
programmer, moved into sales and marketing, moved back
into website development, and I’m volunteer dog trainer on
most Sunday mornings in Centennial Park
• Hobbies are reading, writing, swimming, playing the guitar
(not often enough!) and watching AFL - Go Swannies!
• In summary, I call myself a middle-aged dad and dog owner

3. I’ve always loved reading AND writing
My first “published” writing was an Enid Blyton,
Famous Five/Secret Seven-style adventure story,
Sand Island. It was 1972 and I was 10 years old.
I wrote and illustrated the story, my aunt, the
only one in our family who owned a typewriter,
typed up the manuscript and my father helped me
bind and cover the book.
The treasured first and only edition still exists.

4. Encouraging feedback and rejections
Had a stab at being a writer in England from late-80s to early-90s.
Some encouragement: “This is excellent – well drawn characters,
convincing dialogue and fast moving plot. Passed forward for our next
round of judging.”
More often rejections: “I was pleased to receive your short story
‘Mistaken Identity’, which I have read with interest. Sadly I do not feel
that this piece is right for publication in our magazine. I am sorry to
disappoint you about this but wish every success with it elsewhere.”
Thankfully these were the days of gentle letdowns!

5. Leave England, return to Australia

6. January 2001 - A bright idea!
● Tall And True, a website for
writers, readers and publishers
● Writers could showcase their
writing on the website
● Readers could read and
comment on a wide range of
writing
● Publishers could unearth new
talent for their publications and
imprints

7. Aha, Lotus Notes/Domino

8. Too complicated for platform (& my skillset!)

9. And then someone else got in the way ...

10. So back to Notes/Domino

11. Until … Dog Club websites in Joomla

12. Side tracked by WordPress ...

13. Stumbled across Joomlart JA Magz II
www.joomlart.com/demo/#magz-
ii

14. Joomla maxim: nothing is ever as easy as it looks!
www.tallandtrue.com.au

15. Questions/Discussion/Contact?
● Tall And True: www.tallandtrue.com.au
● Robert Fairhead: www.robertfairhead.com
● Dog Club: www.easternsuburbsdogtraining.org.au
● Rocher Communications: www.rocher.com.au