Vicki Bennett

Vicki is an author, a corporate trainer and artist. She has written 28 books and written and co-produced a documentary, Never Forget Australia. She is currently writing a feature film screenplay about The Little French Digger.

Her writing career commenced with personal development books as tools of reference for organisations and teams she has trained and mentored.

Books include I’ve Found the Keys Now Where’s the Car? (Hodder and Stoughton 1996), Making Dreams Come True (Hodder Headline 1996 Australia; Herder/Spektrum 1996 Germany; Gazebo 1999 United Kingdom), I’ve Read The Rules, Now How Do I Play The Game, (Hodder and Stoughton 1996), Life Smart - Choices for Young People about Friendship, Family and Future (Finch Publishing Australia 2001, three reprint; also published in Indonesia 2005, China 2005, Brazil 2005, Hungary 2005 and Greece 2006), 10 Keys (Avex Group Japan 2004), The Effective Leader (Harper Collins Australia and New Zealand 2002 and China 2006), Signposts for Life: Strategies for Effective Living and Working (Lothian Books Australia 2005). Vicki has published an eBook What Do Women Really Want, published in 2012.

In Japan, Signposts for Balance in Love and Work (IBC Publishing Japan 2007, Lader edition) and Signposts for Balance in Love and Work Book and CD Edition (IBC Publishing Japan, 2008). 100 Keys to Love (IBC Publishing Japan. 2009, Lader edition) and 100 Keys to Love Book and CD Edition (IBC Publishing Japan February 2009). Life Skills (IBC Publishing Japan 2014, Lader edition).

In January 2015, Two Pennies (Boolarong Press, in English and French) a powerful and poignant true story about a little boy who, helped to build a school in Villers Bretonneux in France. Also in 2015, Dreams Can Come True (Boolarong Press).

Vicki is a screenwriter and producer of the documentary Never Forget Australia. Filmed in France and Australia. This film highlights seven little known, poignant stories which emerged from WW1.

Recent books are The Little Stowaway for years 1 – 4 and Oliver’s First Big Spy Adventure for years 5 – 7. The Little Stowaway (Scholastic Australia 2018) is set at the end of WW1 where a ragged, hungry little French orphan came out of the fog on a freezing cold Christmas night in 1918 and wandered into an Australian airmen's mess and his journey home began.

Oliver’s First Big Spy Adventure, (Boolarong Press 2019) begins on an ordinary afternoon after school. He overhears two suspicious-sounding men talking about bacteria, AK47s, vicious dogs and a mysterious island. He is kidnapped, tied up, chased across a field by guard dogs, catches a train, hires a taxi, rides a horse, is shot at, drives a boat and is hopelessly lost at sea. He is brave and resourceful, but can he escape?

Vicki's latest children’s book is The Flying Angel, out late March 2021. A group of nurses are handpicked to rescue injured soldiers from the frontline of Papua New Guinea WW2, and transport them safely back home to Australia. Known for their courage and compassion, the soldiers call them the Flying Angels. A story inspired by the life of one remarkable nurse, Sister Marie Eileen Craig.

Vicki is available to speak in schools with grades 2-7 about her books, Two Pennies, Making Dreams Come True, The Little Stowaway and Oliver’s First Big Spy Adventure. She is an accomplished entertaining speaker.

Vicki has also been providing training for three decades in the corporate training sector. Her programs have been adopted by many companies in Australia and internationally. Some of these are: Powerlink Queensland, Tourism Noosa, Raine and Horne Queensland and Westpac. Her presentations are vibrant and engaging. www.vickibennett.com.au/training

NEW! COVID-19 UPDATE - To adapt to our changing climate, Vicki will offer video presentations for schools.

PRESENTATIONS FOR THE CORPORATE SECTOR:

Vicki has been providing training for three decades in the corporate training sector. Her programs have been adopted by many companies in Australia and internationally. Some of these are: Powerlink Queensland, Tourism Noosa, Raine and Horne Queensland and Westpac. Her presentations are vibrant and engaging. Vicki speaks about change management, creativity, self-care, balancing mind bod and spirit and living a rich inner life. Her book The Effective Leader has been the handbook for many of her clients.

www.vickibennett.com.au/training

PRESENTATION FOR GRADE 2-4:

The Little Stowaway

Set at the end of WW1 where a ragged, hungry little French orphan came out of the fog on a freezing cold Christmas night in 1918 and wandered into an Australian airmen's mess and his journey home began.

This excellent pre-Remembrance Day (11/11/18) or ANZAC Day presentation includes the back-story to the writing of the book, a two-minute film about the book, a reading of the story with PowerPoint illustrations and time for questions and discussion. Available for 30-40 minute Presentations

PRESENTATION FOR GRADE 1-4:

Two Pennies.

George, a little boy in Melbourne, wanted to help rebuild a school in Villers Bretonneux, destroyed by enemy fire in World War I. His school made the rebuilding of the French school their project: The Penny Drive.

George raised two pennies by caring for the horses, which pulled the carts to deliver bread for his father's bakery. Many years later, when George was dying, he asked his daughter to take two more pennies to the school in France. This is a story about hope and the love of children between two countries.

PRESENTATION FOR GRADES 4-6:

Dreams Can Come True.

Vicki is available to demonstrate the value of visualisation and goal setting and their use in the classroom. Reading the exercises such as Secret Garden, Library of Learning, Magic Cave of Friends or one of the eight visualisations in the book, relaxes children and rejuvenates their spirits.

Vicki encourages children to draw their dreams and goals, activating the left and right brain. Student who use visualisation and goalsetting create self-confidence and self-reliance and build on the vital skills for developing growth mind-set.

Dreams Can Come True is an effective resource for teachers.

This presentation includes the back-story to writing the book, reading of several of the visualisations with PowerPoint illustrations, goalsetting, drawing and time for questions and discussion. Available for 30-40 minute Presentations

PRESENTATION FOR GRADES 4 - 7:

Oliver's First Big Spy Adventure.

Oliver has been secretly training as a spy all his life. On an ordinary afternoon after school he overhears two suspicious-sounding men talking about bacteria, AK47s, vicious dogs and a mysterious island. When two men leap from a black van and abduct his Grandmother, Oliver’s first big spy adventure begins. Oliver follows, is kidnapped, tied up, chased across a field by guard dogs barking at his heels, catches a train, hires a taxi, rides a horse, is shot at, drives a boat and is hopelessly lost at sea. He is brave and resourceful, but can he help his grandmother escape?

Vicki Bennett and her grandson Oliver Orth began their spy adventures after school with Oliver making up stories about a boy his age who wants to be a spy. They had so much fun with these stories, they decided to write this book with Vicki using her writing skills and Oliver using his spying skills.

This presentation includes the back-story to the writing of the book, a two-minute film about the book, a reading of the story with PowerPoint illustrations and time for questions and discussion. Available for 30-40 minute Presentation.

PRESENTATION FOR GRADE 4 OR 5

School Literary Awards

For students in grades 4 or 5 who have shown a keen interest in writing and would like to participate in the Literary Awards initiative.

The goal is for the student to submit a story which can be awarded three separate prizes:

For use of imagination
For work which is edited well
For following through with ideas and positioning them into the MS

Vicki Bennett will supply the three prizes: one of her children’s books for each category.

The Little Stowaway,
Two Pennies
Oliver’s First Big Spy Adventure.

To support the literary award, Vicki will work with the nominated students in a workshop where the students will learn the following:

Writing Workshop

Grade 4 or 5 student groups of 20 participants.

Students will learn:

story arc
chapter outline
characters and backstory
combining text to illustration
action plan for book

2-and-a-half-hour Workshop with Vicki Bennett.

This also includes her visiting the school to award the prizes to the students 6 -7 weeks after the workshop.

This initiative has been implemented with St Martin’s School, Carina, Brisbane

Vicki Bennett is available to talk in schools leading up to ANZAC week 2024. She has written 5 ANZAC related children’s books. Her books are Two Pennies, The Little Stowaway, The Flying Angel, The Promise, and Charlie’s War.

Two Pennies is a powerful and poignant true story about a little boy who, helped to build a school in Villers Bretonneux in France after World War 1. The Little Stowaway is also set at the end of WW1 where a ragged, hungry little French orphan came out of the fog on a freezing cold Christmas night in 1918 and wanders into an Australian airmen's mess where his journey home begins. The Flying Angel, is set in Papua New Guinea World War 2, where a group of nurses are handpicked to rescue injured soldiers from the frontline. Known for their courage and compassion, the soldiers call them the Flying Angels.

The Promise is about a Papua New Guinea nurse Maiogaru Taulebona who hid a wounded Australian airman in a cave, deep in the jungle near Milne Bay in WW2. With two words, I promise, she was bound to the task of saving his life. Hiding him in a canoe under a pile of vegetables, Maiogaru paddled him through Japanese occupied waters to safety. Her bravery was recognised when she was awarded the Royal Australia Air Force Loyalty Medal.

Her latest book, Charlie’s War is about how an Australian boy’s dream of shearing sheep is interrupted when war breaks out in Europe. At first, indigenous men weren’t permitted to enlist. But Charlie kept asking and, with two of his shearing buddies, they joined the First Australia Imperial Force, where their lives changed forever. Charlie, Jack and George were amongst the 1250 Indigenous soldiers who fought in World War I. These three soldiers are together again on the Memorial Board in Toomelah, not far from the shearing shed that held their dreams long ago.

These authentic stories are a valuable resource for children to learn about their ancestors and how these conflicts significantly shaped our history. The Flying Angel and The Promise also speaks of the involvement and bravery of women in war.

Vicki’s presentation is 60 minutes duration, and uses PowerPoint and memorabilia from these true stories.

Testimonials

Thanks so much Vicki for your presentations to the year 9s, especially your patience with the kids! They really enjoyed your talk. Thanks again.

Stretton State College

Stretton State College
Vicki Bennett
Thank you for speaking to the Year 3 cohort, 38 boys and you held them in the palm of your hand. The questions were interesting and that's always a sign the boys enjoyed the talk.

Brisbane Boys College

Brisbane Boys College
Vicki Bennett
Thank you for your school talk about The Little Stowaway and Two Pennies. The children were entranced with your stories.

Where the Wild Things Are - Avid Reader

Where the Wild Things Are - Avid Reader
Vicki Bennett
It was great to accompany you to your presentations at Hornsby and Cherrybrook Primary Schools. You held the children's attention and they really enjoyed The Little Stowaway. It's now in its second print run. Congratulations.

Scholastic Press

Scholastic Press
Vicki Bennett
I am writing to express my love for "The Little Stowaway" this book is such a lovely book it shows lots of feeling, thank you for writing this book. I think of it all the time and it is one of my go-to picture books.

New Farm State School

New Farm State School
Vicki Bennett