Vicki Bennett is an author, artist, filmmaker, writing coach, and corporate trainer. She has written over 10 books and written and co-produced a documentary, Never Forget Australia. Most recently she has written a number of Picture Stroybooks introducing young readers to special stories about WWI and WWII. Vicki's latest children's book, Charlie's War, will be published by Windy Hollow in October 2023. This story is based on true events and is about a young Aboriginal boy, Charlie Bird and two friends who served in WWI. Vicki has been the curator of this narrative from Des Crump, Charlie's great nephew and Charlie's daughter and grand-daughter who support this project. The Promise (2022), was launched at the 80th Anniversary celebrations of the Battle of Milne Bay. It is based on a true story about a Papua New Guinea Nurse who saved the life of an Australian Airman. The bravery of nurse Maiogaru Taulebona was recognised when she was awarded the Royal Australia Air Force Loyalty Medal.
The Flying Angel (2021), was inspired by the life of the remarkable nurse, Sister Marie Eileen Craig. In early 1944, 15 nurses from the Royal Australian Air Force nursing service were handpicked for the 2nd unit of flying sisters who made up the No 2 MAETU. Nicknamed 'the flying angels', the unit was based in Papua New Guinea. Sister Craig was one of these nurses, handpicked to rescue injured soldiers from the frontline and bring them back to Australia.
The Little Stowaway (2018) tells the story of a French orphan smuggled to Australia afer WW1. The Little Stowaway opens at the end of the war, when 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. See trailer.
Two Pennies (2105), is about a little boy called George, living in Victoria after World War 1. He decides to work hard to raise two pennies to help build a school in Villers-Bretonneux, France. This town had been flattened by war and the school destroyed. This is a powerful and poignant picture story book about a little boy who, with courage, hope and perseverance, helped to build this school across the oceans. See trailer. This book has been translated into French: Deux Pennies.
Oliver's First Big Spy Adventure is mid grade fiction for 9-12 year olds. Vicki wrote this book with her grandson Oliver Orth. On an ordinary afternoon after school, Oliver overhears two suspicious-sounding men talking about bacteria, AK47s, vicious dogs and a mysterious island. His grandmother takes off after them – proving to Oliver that she really is a spy. He follows them and when two men leap from a black van and abduct his grandmother, Oliver’s first big spy adventure really begins.
Vicki's latest non-fiction books for adults, The Book of Hope: An antidote for anxiety, was published in 2020.
Visit Vicki’s web site for more information about her and her books.