Jon Doust
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Jon Doust is a comedian, writer and professional speaker from Western Australia. Born in Bridgetown, he worked in farming, retailing and journalism before pursuing a career in comedy.
Doust has co-authored with Ken Spillman two children's books, Magpie Mischief (2002)[1] and Magwheel Madness (2005) - both published by Fremantle Arts Centre Press, as well as short stories published in anthologies and The West Australian newspaper. He has also self-published two small books titled How to lose an election and Letters to the police and other species.
He has performed at a number of comedy venues and festivals, including the Amnesty International Comedy Festival in Sydney and the Palandri International Comedy Festival in Margaret River. He has supported local and international comedy acts including Alexei Sayle, Hale and Pace, Richard Stubbs, Rachel Berger and illusionist Robert Gallop.
Doust was the driving force behind the formation of Laugh Resort Inc[1], an association of stand-up comedians, who continue to run Laugh Resort at the Brass Monkey in Perth, now one of the longest running comedy rooms in Australia. It has been the breeding ground for a number of Australia's current crop of leading comedians, including Rove McManus[2], Dave Hughes and Dave Callen.
He has been a regular voice on local ABC radio stations, including at one stage a regular inhabitant of Sunday radio programmes of Peter Holland among others. He is regular guest on ABC Radio's Ted Bull program.[2]
For many years, Doust has run a University of Western Australia Extension Program course entitled How to Laugh Your Way out of a Paper bag, in collaboration with others including Steve Wells and Don Smith.
As well as comedy interests, Doust has studied and based much of his writing on the work of Carl Jung and is an accredited Myers Briggs Practitioner.
In the 1993 Australian federal election, he unsuccessfully stood for the seat of Curtin against incumbent Allan Rocher making only 428 votes. His campaign slogan was "Put me last!". In the 1998 election he stood against sitting member Geoff Prosser in the seat of Forrest failing again.
Early in his career he was a writer for the Sunday Times as a reviewer of computer technology. He later was a columnist on the weekend edition of the West Australian newspaper, with clearly autobiographical references in his work.
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[edit] Notes
[edit] References
[edit] Works
- (1992) Letters to the police - and other species with George Gosh. Lesmurdie, W.A : Wordplay.
- (1993) Better than a poke in the eye : a few notes, tips and things to do to help you increase the laughage in your life Lesmurdie W.A. : Wordplay.
- (1993) "'How to - lose an election Lesmurdie, W.A : Wordplay.
- (2002) with Ken Spillman Magpie mischief (illustrations by Marion Duke). Fremantle, W.A. Fremantle Arts Centre Press. ISBN 1863683550
- (2005) with Ken Spillman Magwheel madness (illustrations by Marion Duke). Fremantle, W.A. Fremantle Arts Centre Press. ISBN 1920731768
[edit] Anthologies
- (1997) Great Australian Bites, ed. Dave Warner, Fremantle Arts Centre Press.
- (1997) Fathers in Writing, ed. Ross Fitzgerald and Ken Spillman, Tuart House.
