Episode 3: Janine Shepherd
Janine Lee Shepherd, AM (born 1962) was a champion Australian cross-country skier until she suffered major injuries when hit by a truck during training. Before the accident, she had been considered a strong chance to win Australia’s first ever medal at the Winter Olympics. Though she was told she would never walk again or have children, and doctors had significant doubts as to whether she would survive at all, she defied all of these, and her story later became the focus of national attention, as well as a popular telemovie.
You can download the episode here (right click and “save as”) or play using one of our web-based players.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Shepherd had been an athletics champion as a child, winning several national titles by the age of 10. Though she was talented at a number of sports, she settled on cross-country skiing. After achieving some success, she was given the offer of training with the Canadian team in the leadup to the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.
In 1986, Shepherd was cycling through the Blue Mountains in New South Wales as part of her training regime, when everything changed. She was hit by a ute, suffering massive injuries. She suffered a broken neck and back, lost five litres of blood, suffered severe lacerations to her abdominal area. Her right leg was ripped open, her collarbone and five ribs were fractured, and she suffered serious internal injuries. Doctors at first thought she would not live, but she pulled through. She was then told that she would be bound to a wheelchair for the rest of her life, and would never bear children.
Over the next few years, Shepherd began to go through the slow rehabilitation process. She was determined to defy the predictions set by her doctors, and succeeded in doing so. She was ultimately able to walk again, albeit with a slight limp, and has three children. She gained her pilots license within a year of the accident, and went on to gain an instructor’s license, eventually becoming a trained aerobatics flying instructor. She also became the first female director of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Shepherd has written four books about her experiences. The first, Never Tell Me Never was made into a successful telemovie, with Shepherd being played by Claudia Karvan. She also has a university degree in physical education.
She was a torchbearer at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney. More recently, Shepherd took up dressage in an attempt to represent Australia at the 2004 Summer Paralympics, despite suffering from chronic back pain.
Shepherd has received numerous awards, such as a 1998 ‘Outstanding Young Persons of the World’ award from Junior Chamber International. In 2001, she was made a Member of the Order of Australia for her work as the patron of the Australasian Spinal Research Trust. Shepherd is now a regular on the Australian motivational speaking circuit, and currently resides in the Southern Highlands of NSW.
This is the most comprehensive account of Janine’s life on the Internet. We thank Janine for the opportunity to share her story. We do venture outside the realm of what you will normally hear from us on this program, but Janine’s story is one that we can all relate to at some point in our lives. We’ll be back to hard-core aviation in episode 4.
Audio Index
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
00:00:00 Introduction & chat
00:01:42 Janine Shepherd Introduction
00:04:40 Interview with Janine Shepherd
→ 00:05:00 Janine talks about her early sport
→ 00:08:20 Janine talks about her accident/recovery
→ 00:15:50 Janine decides to learn to fly
→ 00:38:50 Short audio clip from Janine on the speaking circuit
→ 00:35:05 ”Never Tell Me Never” – the book
→ 00:40:20 ”Never Tell Me Never” – the movie
→ 00:45:00 Short cockpit audio sequence
→ 00:45:48 The Janine & Tim story (and the kids)
→ 00:50:53 ”On My Own Two Feet” – the book
→ 00:53:14 Janine & Darren Colston
→ 00:45:52 Introducing “Lifting The Spirit”
→ 00:58:45 Karlene & her own personal story
→ 01:02:40 Janine links and farewell
01:03:45 Post Janine Chat & Credits
01:05:50 Interview with Noel Kruse (Janine’s Flight Instructor)
01:21:00 Post Noel Kruse chat
01:22:24 Airline Ops IT Symposium, Flight Experience (Sydney)
01:30:03 Advertising
01:30:33 Introduction to Podcast 4- “Bo Corby”
01:31:06 Shoutouts
01:32:48 Exit
01:33:27 Disclaimer
You can download the episode here (right click and “save as”) or scroll to the bottom of the page.
Janine’s Books
Never Tell Me Never (1995) (ISBN 0-7251-0747-2)
Dare To Fly (1998) (ISBN 0-09-183721-9)
Reaching For Stars (1998) (ISBN 0-09-183986-6)
On My Own Two Feet (2007) (ISBN 978-1-74166-046-3)
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
→ Buy Janine’s books and her DVD here.
Links
Janine Shepherd’s website – JanineShepherd.com
Follow Janine on Twitter at twitter.com/janineshepherd | Janine’s Blog | Lifting The Spirit (under construction)
Darren Colston’s website – DarrenColston.com | @DarrenColston
Buy Darren’s self titles album here.
Noel Kruse Website: FlyBetter.com.au
→ Book 1 – Aerodynamics and other Stuff (PDF, 4.8MB)
→ Book 2 – Aeroplane Handling Techniques (PDF 1.6MB)
→ Book 3 – The Art of Aerial Navigation (PDF 1.27MB)
Follow Noel Kruse & Fly Better on Facebook here.
Boeing 737 Flight Experience (simulator) Giveaway
We have a 30-minute session in the Flight Experience (Sydney) Boeing 737 ‘simulator’. All you have to do to be in the running at this stage is follow us on Facebook or Twitter and we’ll make details available soon. If anybody has an airline interview coming up please let us know. It is worth $175. Obviously, it’s only available to those in Sydney (Australia). Sorry about that – we have a lot of international giveaways coming up.
Shoutouts
Flaps Podcast – FlapsPodcast.com | @FlapsPodcast
Mile High Flyers – Mile High Flyers | @MileHighFlyers
Aeropop (Jennifer) – @aeropup
About Episode 4
On June 19, 2005 at 0435 in the morning Tehran local time, Northwest Airlines Flight 41 made an emergency landing at the Meherabad international Airport in Tehran, Iran, the first American air carrier to land in Iran in 26 years. We talk in details to Captain Bo Corby about the decisions he made, the experience of flying into “enemy territory”, and the aftermath of the diversion. It was considered an international concern. So much so, the US President was woken to deal with the so-called “crisis”. Bo talks about the incident for the first time. It has never been documented in any way since it occurred.
This episode is of interest to anybody, although its focus is those involved in the airline industry.
Images of Janine
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Janine’s early sporting life. | ||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| A few screenshots from the movie, “Never Tell Me Never” | ||
 |
 |
 |
Related podcast episodes:
Category: Podcast Episodes
What an amazing inspiring lady. Thank you all so much for bringing this story to us in a surprising and touching way given that you’re all airline pilots. I truly wasn’t expecting to be moved the way I was. Janine, if you read this, I’m buying your first book tomorrow and I can’t wait to read it.
What a great podcast and lovely story. I listened to number three, then got sucked into number two and had to listen to number one just to top it off. I’ve never even had an interest in aviation until listening to your program. Keep up the amazing work.
[...] FLIGHT PODCASTEpisode 3: Janine ShepherdJanine Lee Shepherd, AM (born 1962) was a champion Australian cross-country skier until she suffered [...]
Hey Marty thanks for commenting on the AGP, happy to have you as a listener.
BTW took me a while to find your player, ever thought about putting it at the top?
Cheers mate and thanks again.
Thanks Dave. I look forward to playing your PE promo. Good point re the player – I’ll fix it.
Awesome podcast , Well Done Guys, and an awe inspiring story Janine , congrats to all.
Absolutely awesome guys. Can’t wait for the fourth.
The power of Janine’s story reduced me to tears after only a few minutes of listening. As a student pilot listening for the first time I wasn’t expecting to be inspired in this way. Thank you Marty, Ken, Adam, Karlene and, of course, Janine.
This was a wonderful and inspiring story that I’d never heard of before. I’ve just ordered Janine’s first book. Thanks for bringing it to us.
Hello there, You’ve done an incredible job. I’ll definitely digg it and personally suggest to my friends.
[...] • Flight Podcast [...]
This was a very inspiring story. I’m just letting you know I’ve ordered a copy of DC’s CD. God bless.
Thankyou for a great podcast. Your introduction was delivered perfectly, the interview was handled with respect and the questions were well thought out. I’ve read all of Janines books and seen the movie so I was already a huge fan before stumbling across your podcast.
I’ve downloaded it and will be listening to it again.
Lastly thank you to Janine for sharing her story. I like so many others was moved to tears listening to it. Janine chose the title of her book well as she certainly lives by the motto “never tell me never”