WHAT IS PARALLEL PARTNERS BOOKS?

Parallel Partners Books started in 2014, with an aim to preserve the history of sport for future generations. From day one, we have partnered with local rural communities to assist with the further education of students, so they can remain in regional Australia.

HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

A percentage of each sale goes towards a grant which assists a regional student transition from high school to higher education. We work alongside local high schools to identify students who may best benefit from the grant, and liaise with the student, their family, and the school throughout the transition process; and also provide mentoring while the student engages in higher education. The grant is known as The Deeley Project.

WHY DO YOU DO THIS?

Our founder and author, Matthew Geddes, spent a decade working in employment services programmes with some of the most disadvantaged sectors of our community. Matthew led a team that assisted youth, people with mental health issues, single parents, the homeless, and Aboriginal people into sustainable employment outcomes.

Upon leaving the sector, Matthew embarked on the project to preserve sporting history, but also kept ties with employment services, especially in regional and rural communities. While based in Sydney, Matthew had the opportunity to work in Mudgee, Lithgow, Nowra, Goulburn, and the NSW Central Coast during his time with Mission Australia.

WHY MOVE INTO SPORTING HISTORY?

Matthew was born in 1970 in Parramatta, and raised in a sports loving family. As a youngster, he became fascinated with the history of rugby league, and was fortunate enough to gain access to the NSWRL archives to begin hand written notes on match results and scorers. This developed into a life long love of recording the history of the sport, and later encompassed cricket, tennis, wrestling, and many other sports. Matthew’s passion saw him study history at university level in the 1990s, and again in the 2020s.

In 2013, Matthew moved to Crookwell in the NSW southern tablelands, and moved away from employment services the following year. Since 2016, he has had a twice weekly radio segment on Goulburn station, GN-FM 107.7 (previously 1368 2GN). Thursday afternoons see Matthew debate the sports issues of the week with presenter, John Banks. The Craig Prichard Show on Friday mornings features a segment where Matthew and Craig wrap up the results of the week, and preview the week ahead. During the NRL season, Matthew features on Craig’s show on Thursday mornings for his weekly tips.