Willie Apiata VC: A Reluctant Hero

Description

Corporal Willie Apiata became the first New Zealander since the Second World War to be awarded the Commonwealth's highest military award for his actions with the NZ SAS in Afghanistan. From his early life in small town East Coast New Zealand to his actions in the deserts of Afghanistan, this is his story in his words. Inspiring, and heart warming, this is the story of an ordinary Kiwi facing extraordinary challenges.

John Lockyer is a teacher. In 1990, after working in many schools and experiencing many positions including senior teacher, deputy principal and principal, he decided to give up his administrative responsibilities to spend more time teaching and writing. 'Teaching is a lot like writing,' he says. 'Even after careful planning, I'm never sure what's going to happen each day. And that's what makes it exciting.' John's first story was published in 1987. Although he has written resource books for teachers, he writes mainly for children. He has written stories and books for many ages and interests including sports, history, natural history, adventure, science fiction, real-life, fantasy and plays. John particularly enjoys writing science fiction. This genre allows him to use his imagination to develop believable but fantastic plots.