This book is the end result of scores of hours of interviews with James and Stephen Dack in 2008 and 2009. It was a journey that was inspiring, outrageous and enjoyable and – having read the book, you’ll understand why – so very sad. I believe that James’s and Stephen’s intertwined experiences combine to be one of the great Australian stories and it was a privilege to help them tell it.
I thank, of course, the brothers Dack for sharing their lives with me. And Sunshine & Shadow could never have been written without the blessing and support of Alison Dack, Stephen’s partner Hilary and her daughters Joey and Adele, Bruce Collins and Johnny Lewis. All, in their different ways, love Stephen and James.
As this book was going to press, Johnny Lewis, Australia’s finest boxing coach and a mentor of the brothers since they were boys, sent in the following thoughts. He wanted his feelings on the record.
The story of James and Stephen Dack is about two young boys who both rose above a childhood that dealt them sorrow and grief. With the tragic death of their mother at an early age, James was forced into the role of father, big brother and best mate to Stephen and their younger sister, Alison.
James, with steely grit and a no-nonsense approach, went on to become an icon in the real estate profession, selling some of the highest-priced homes in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. But James never forgot where he came from, continually donating funds to the Woolloomooloo Police Citizens Youth Club and the local primary school. James is married to Mary and they have two children, Emily and Riley, who make up a beautiful family.
Stephen became a very talented rugby league player, making the New South Wales schoolboys representative side alongside such stars of the future as Andrew Ettingshausen and Greg Alexander. He went on to be graded with the Eastern Suburbs Roosters. Stephen then turned his dedication into boxing, and became an amateur champion and represented Australia in overseas tournaments. During this period of his life, Stephen also combined being a street-sweeper for Sydney City Council with studying Law at university. He went on to be a qualified solicitor with his own practice.
Stephen took his own life in April 2009. Personally, I have been left with an emptiness that I’ve never experienced before. I doubt if I will ever get over this loss of life. Stephen meant so much to me. He never said a bad word about anybody and he was loved by so many. So many times I saw him give money and food to the homeless people of the Darlinghurst–Woolloomooloo areas. He was the most decent, generous and humble person I have ever known.
—Johnny Lewis