International Speaker . Author

NEVER TELL ME NEVER

NEVER TELL ME NEVER - DVD

On an afternoon bike ride in the Blue Mountains Janine Shepherd's life was altered irrevocably.

When the champion cross country skier in training for the Winter Olympics was hit by a truck, doctors warned her parents that she was not expected to survive her ordeal. The bleeding alone was enough to kill her. Even if by some small chance she recovered, she would never walk again.

'The ultimate in dedication, achievement, determination, accomplishment... A celebration of life' : Sara Henderson

'If gold medals were awarded for sheer guts and determination, Janine Shepherd would have a truckload': Herald Sun

'A story of remarkable strength, endurance, discipline and inspiration': Gold Coast Bulletin

Synopsis

Based on a true life story, Never Tell Me Never stars Claudia Karvan (Secret Life of Us, The Big Steal) as Janine Shepherd, a champion Australian skier tragically struck down in a horrific road accident. An aspiring Olympic champion with the world at her feet, Janine's dream is shattered when she is hit by a car and
left a virtual paraplegic. She now has to face her ultimate challenge - to walk again, and to find a reason to live in a world forever changed.

Made for television in 1998, this powerful and moving drama traces Janine's courageous and determined attempt to rebuild her extraordinary life. Told she will never walk again, Janine vows to fly instead, starting a journey that leads to her remarkable resurrection.

The Fox Blog - Film Review

DARE TO FLY

ON MY OWN TWO FEET

Dare to Fly takes up where Never Tell Me Never ends, and follows Janine through the publication of her book,. the ensuing attention and tremndous support from all kinds of people, the birth of her first two children and her careers as a pilot and a public speaker. She focuses most intently on the people she meets who give her the strength to keep going - she is still in a lot of pain, is still having considerable corrective surgery, and is a partial paraplegic.

If Never Tell Me Never was a celebration of one woman's resolve and sheer determination not to give in against overwhelming odds, Dare to Fly is about how people can help each other find the strength and commitment they need to follow their dreams. Janine now finds her strength in the letters and messages she gets from people who have been moved and inspired by her story in Never Tell Me Never; Dare to Fly will touch people in the same way, and inspire and comfort all who read it.

In 1986, champion cross-country skier Janine Shepherd was training for the Winter Olympics when she was hit by a truck and suffered life-threatening injuries. She was told that she would never walk again.

Not only did Janine confound her doctors by learning to walk, she learned to fly a plane and became a commercial pilot and aerobatics instructor. She married and had three children, despite the medical opinion that this would be impossible.

Her life seemed better than ever; she and her husband bought a farm and moved to the Southern Highlands, where Janine learned to ride a horse so well she was in the running for the Paralympic Equestrian Team. But then the unthinkable happened. Her husband became seriously ill and suddenly her life began to crumble.

On My Own Two Feet is the honest and often heart-wrenching account of Janine's struggle to save her family from an unpredictable and devastating illness that threatened to teart them apart. Anyone who has gained strength and inspiration from Janine's previous books will be saddened, touched but ultimately uplifted by this incredible story, told with her charismatic warmth, integrity and humour.

REACHING FOR STARS

Janine Shepherd is an inspiration in anyone's book.

Her bestselling autobiographical books, Never Tell Me Never and Dare to Fly have won her legions of fans all over Australia, as did the recently screened movie of Never Tell Me Never.

Wherever she goes, Janine is approached by people who have been moved and inspired by her books.

They always ask her where they can get copies of some of the poems and motivational passages she reads out during her speeches - poems and works which encouraged her at some stage of her struggle, or which were sent to her by people undergoing similiar trials.

In response to the thousands of requests from readers and literary lunchers all over Australia, Janine has compiled Reaching for Stars, Reflections on a journey through life and living, which brings together her favourite inspirational verses and motivational quotes, as well as her many observations of her own.

"Your destiny can be a matter of choice or of chance"