Laurie Dicker
A descendant of eleven English and Irish convicts transported to Australia in the early days of settlement, Laurie was born during the Great Depression of the 1930s into a small country town with no running water, sewerage, electricity or paved roads.
Early in his life his father gave him the nickname of "Speewah" that means, in outback Australia, the teller of tall tales, with each telling becoming more exaggerated. In that environment he was surrounded by country folk; those uninhibited, open, honest, friendly, warm and welcoming people with a true spirit of mateship and a sharp Aussie humour.
After World War II he survived the bastardisation of a boy's boarding school to attend Teachers College and complete his National Service before commencing his teaching career as an 18-year-old in a secondary school where some students were older than him.
Laurie progressed to Head Teacher, Inspector and Regional Director; had a year on exchange in New Zealand, and was awarded a Teaching Service Fellowship to study in Europe and North America. He later set up his own private management consultancy specialising in organisational development, change management, industrial relations and conflict resolution.
He wrote his first book - Assignment Geography - in 1969; a workbook for secondary students. In the early 2000s he authored three practical guides for managers and supervisors: Making Conflict Resolution Happen, Making Negotiations Happen and Employee Relations.
In 2011 he composed a collection of bush yarns - Dust, Dags, Drongos and Flies - using his knowledge and experience of living, working and travelling in the country.
In 2016, in response to his son's request, he wrote his life story - Three Crows on a Bloodstained Saddle - which is more a cultural history of the times, places, people and events that crossed his path during his 81 years.
In 2019, Laurie published his first novel - Harry The Ant Nest - a murder mystery set in a 1940s outback country town. This was followed in the next 4 years with 3 sequels featuring Detective Harry Taylor. They were HARRY: The Target, HARRY: Amazing Grace and HARRY: The Red Raddle.
In his retirement he took up painting and is a member of the Mixed and Multimedia art group at the Buderim Craft Cottage (Queensland), a wonderful community organisation catering for a wide range of interests and skills. He enjoys reading, writing, travel, good food and wine and great company.
A descendant of eleven English and Irish convicts transported to Australia in the early days of settlement, Laurie was born during the Great Depression of the 1930s into a small country town with no running water, sewerage, electricity or paved roads.
Early in his life his father gave him the nickname of "Speewah" that means, in outback Australia, the teller of tall tales, with each telling becoming more exaggerated. In that environment he was surrounded by country folk; those uninhibited, open, honest, friendly, warm and welcoming people with a true spirit of mateship and a sharp Aussie humour.
After World War II he survived the bastardisation of a boy's boarding school to attend Teachers College and complete his National Service before commencing his teaching career as an 18-year-old in a secondary school where some students were older than him.
Laurie progressed to Head Teacher, Inspector and Regional Director; had a year on exchange in New Zealand, and was awarded a Teaching Service Fellowship to study in Europe and North America. He later set up his own private management consultancy specialising in organisational development, change management, industrial relations and conflict resolution.
He wrote his first book - Assignment Geography - in 1969; a workbook for secondary students. In the early 2000s he authored three practical guides for managers and supervisors: Making Conflict Resolution Happen, Making Negotiations Happen and Employee Relations.
In 2011 he composed a collection of bush yarns - Dust, Dags, Drongos and Flies - using his knowledge and experience of living, working and travelling in the country.
In 2016, in response to his son's request, he wrote his life story - Three Crows on a Bloodstained Saddle - which is more a cultural history of the times, places, people and events that crossed his path during his 81 years.
In 2019, Laurie published his first novel - Harry The Ant Nest - a murder mystery set in a 1940s outback country town. This was followed in the next 4 years with 3 sequels featuring Detective Harry Taylor. They were HARRY: The Target, HARRY: Amazing Grace and HARRY: The Red Raddle.
In his retirement he took up painting and is a member of the Mixed and Multimedia art group at the Buderim Craft Cottage (Queensland), a wonderful community organisation catering for a wide range of interests and skills. He enjoys reading, writing, travel, good food and wine and great company.