ADELAIDE Crows superstar Eddie Betts visited the John McVeity Centre in Smithfield Plains on Sunday afternoon to talk about his new book ‘My People’ in front of hundreds of adoring fans.
More than 600 onlookers packed into the centre for the Crows veteran’s talk, where he not only spoke about his new book, but read through it with the assistance of some kids in the crowd.
Speaking on stage, Betts said he’d always dreamed of writing a book, despite his own literacy struggles in early adulthood.
“I still can’t believe I actually wrote two books,” he said.
“I didn’t read or write when I was growing up.
“When I got drafted, I couldn’t really read or write, so I had do some literacy classes with the Carlton Football Club; that’s how I started to learn how to read properly.
“I hated the media, public speaking, and I couldn’t speak to kids, but I learned that through footy.
“I love hanging out and engaging with kids.
“I’d always wanted to write a book, but I didn’t think it was possible.”
Betts’ first book, ‘My Kind’, speaks about kindness and the indigenous Australian culture, while also talking about a
number of life lessons.
“I want kids to be kind and be engaged with the book, and it to be easy to read,” Betts said.
“The first book was so easy to write, as it’s about who I am as a person and how I like to treat others how I’d like to be treated.
“You talk about kindness, bullying, looking after the environment, speaking out when you’re sad and looking after your elders as well.”
Following the reading, Betts answered questions from fans in the crowd, and stayed an additional two hours to sign autographs for all who attended.
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