Mr Fischer revealed on Monday that he had been “diagnosed with acute leukaemia” and was receiving a 28-day cycle of treatment in the Peter Mac Hospital in Melbourne.

Mr Fischer told The Daily Advertiser on Thursday that he was heading back to his farm after completing the treatment cycle and had been told some promising news in his fight with the blood-borne cancer.

His doctors have given him clearance to travel to Wagga on November 8 to launch his new book ‘Steam Australia: Locomotives that Galvanised the Nation’.

“I will have further tests next Monday but at the moment my blood test results are quite good," Mr Fischer said.

“I’m feeling OK but obviously there’s a long way to go.

“I’m back on the farm and I have permission to go to just three functions only: Albury, Wagga and the Yerong Creek Centenary of Armistice.” 

Mr Fischer represented parts of the Riverina for 21 years as the state member for Sturt and Murray and the federal member for Farrer.

There will be something special for Wagga in Mr Fischer’s new book.

“One of the best photos in the book is of a steam train in full flight across the Wagga Wagga viaduct across the Murrumbidgee River,” Mr Fischer said.

“It’s a magnificent photo, never seen before, and that’s the same viaduct used by Mark Twain in 1895 and of course it should be renamed the ‘Mark Twain Viaduct’.”

“It’s a huge photo, the biggest in the book.”

Former Riverina MP Kay Hull will join Mr Fisher in Wagga to launch the book at Collins Booksellers.

“It will probably be my last book,” Mr Fischer said.

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