Inspired by a life changing event and the taste for good ol' adventure, Russell would not only battle the reoccurring malarial fevers but would unwittingly cycle near a nuclear test site, be chased by packs of wild dogs in the dead of night, run up trees to escape charging rhinos, get caught a little too near to Afghanistan during September 11 and lastly, have a stack with a yak. Overcoming these adversities, Russell managed to complete the trip in 10 months and to successfully have his dream of having the book published (Yakety Yak: Bombay to Beijing by Bicycle Penguin Group) while a one man show of the trip Bombay to Beijing by Bicycle won the George Fairfax Playwright Competition 2003. To follow on from this, in 2008 Russell completed a successful tour with this show of the Edinburgh Festival.

Russell was also featured in the Melbourne Writers' Festival 2004 and has appeared on Red Symons's 774 radio program, 2UE Sydney and with Russell Gilbert on Radio SEN 1116. Apart from this great adventure, Russell has travelled and worked in over 30 countries from sitting with mountain gorillas in the African Congo, motorcycling through typhoons in Taiwan, picking grapefruit on a kibbutz and climbing Mount Kenya.

Other professions include, performer and writer for children's theatre, television producer, writer and director for commercials for TV Media Consultancy and as a director of his own advertising company, Big Mouth Promotions. In 2008, Russel was honored with an invitation to judge the Bundoora Literary Awards.

A natural speaker, Russell has tread the boards as an actor and comedian here in Australia and overseas, making appearances on Neighbours, the London comedy circuit and in a cover band as an Austin Powers/Dr Evil impersonator. Breathtaking, exhausting and often hilarious, Russell entertaining stories and photos of his adventures will inspire anyone with an ounce of wonder dust in their pants and the courage to say 'yes' to the big 'what if' that lies out there for all of us.

WRITING YAKETY YAK: BOMBAY TO BEIJING BY BICYCLE was published by Penguin Publishing 2004.

Russell contributes stories regularly to the numerous publications: Get Lost Travel Magazine, Metro News, The Big Issue, The Age and Australian Cyclist Magazine.

http://www.russellmcgilton.com.au

"The guest speaker spoke from the heart and his sincere, honest approach is to be commended. It is very difficult to speak openly about aspects of your life to others but he managed to do it in such a way that I could relate to him. He made you feel quite comfortable."
"Very entertaining and inspiring, what a journey and the photos were great. Thanks for the great opportunity to hear someone of such quality!! Excellent!!!"
-Staff from Caroline Chisholm Catholic College

"Russell McGilton was a guest speaker in my Writer and Publication course (Master of Creative Media) this year. Russ is a brilliant speaker. He combines wit with insight and erudition. He relates well with students. He is a natural teacher..."
- Antoni Jach author and creative fiction lecturer at RMIT

It is rare that you see a public speaker who is so capable of mixing the comedic with the thoughtful, and genuinely able to keep a crowd on the edge of their seats at the same time"
- Louise Swinn, Sleepers Writers' Forum

'Russell is one of those very rare combinations - a great comedian, a very good writer, and a clever man with a message. His style of delivery will appeal to truly diverse audiences, from corporate to general, have them laughing - at him, themselves and the world - and thinking about adventures and the challenge of a meaningful life. Truly delightful.'
- Fabian Dattner, founder of Dattner Grant Management Consultancy