Staff writer John’s talents aren’t limited to travel and script writing, he is also the author of numerous children’s books and the best-selling non-fiction novel Riding the Black Cockatoo. John spends a few weeks each year speaking and running creative writing workshops in schools in Australia and abroad.
Last year, John was invited by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation to take part in a one-week field trip to the remote Tiwi Islands. John worked extensively with the senior girls and their teachers at Tiwi College, and under his mentorship they created the fantastic picture book, Bang 2 Jurrukuk.
This September, to mark National Indigenous Literacy Day, the girls made the long journey from the Tiwi Islands to Sydney, where the book was launched before an audience of 300 at the Sydney Opera House. Creating the book has been a life-changing journey for the Tiwi students, and for John.
Tourism Media are proud to support John in his endeavours to promote the power of story and literacy. The Indigenous Literacy Foundation delivers free books to remote communities across Australia. You can learn more about the ILF’s amazing work here.
