Wednesday, 3 December 2025

 Cindy McLEISH (Eildon) (10:34): Kirk Mercuri is Mr Everywhere in Kinglake, and he is known by so many who see him around the traps on his daily bike ride, volunteering at the library or op shop, or helping at the football club or basketball court. That is why it was no surprise that Ellimatta in Kinglake was packed on Sunday for his book launch. The crowd, with swollen hearts and tears welling, delighted in the launch of Kirk’s book, Step by Step: Living with Autism. Arriving in style and walking the red carpet, Kirk had a ball as he was greeted by family and friends, then interviewed by his editor the patient and talented Kinglake local Kath Stewart. I do not know how he did it, but he got Nathan Buckley to do the foreword of his book.