Real Name: Peter Rodgers.

Also Answers To: "Mine host".

Occupation / Title: Former leading light in the banking and financial industries, Expert close-up magician, Magical collector, Skeptic, Tour Guide, Patriot.

Brief Summary: Peter is the perfect host for anyone visiting Australia, especially any visiting magician. He lives in a modest mansion in Baulkham Hills, north of Sydney, and very generously let me have half of it for the duration of my stay in Australia.

I had a great time, and I'm not the only visiting magician to have enjoyed Peter's fine sense of genial hospitality. He also has the largest collection of magical books, booklets and magazines that I've ever seen, and is a superb close-up magician in his own right who tackles some difficult, advanced stuff with great ease. His generosity seemingly knows no bounds, and he also undertook countless hours and miles of driving on my behalf.

World Records Held:
Best Host
Best Exponent: The Floating Dollar Bill Illusion
World's Largest Collection Of Magic Books (seemingly)
World's Most Tireless and Uncomplaining Driver

Other Notable Achievements & Honours: I just want to mention Peter's vast magic library again to make one additional point: not only has Peter spent a lifetime accumulating his truly staggering magic library, but he can actually find stuff in it. If you are trying to locate information about a particular effect, he can usually track down relevant sources in a couple of minutes. This makes a big difference, and is not something that can be said of all magical collectors.

Best Party Trick: Making things float by magic.

Special Powers: (1) Excellent conversationalist, especially on long car journeys that might otherwise drag a little. (2) Very good at thinking of things that visitors might like to go and see or do. (3) Can apparently drive forever without getting tired.

Known Weaknesses: Tells me that he has no ear for music whatsoever, and can barely tell Bach from the Rolling Stones.

Catchphrase: "It's only 7 hours away. I'll drive you there if you like."