Mr Heffernan is an award-winning children’s author who, when he is not touring the country, lives near Walcha.

In a fortunate string of events a cancellation meant Mr Heffernan was able to jet home to instruct and inspire at the workshops with the Drummond students.

The celebrity training was Drummond’s prize for winning a National Literacy and Numeracy Grant as part of National Literacy and Numeracy Week from September 1 to 7.

Students from Years 2 to 6 were able to benefit from the grant which brought the person responsible for a number of the their favourites to Armidale.

Drummond acting assistant principal and the school’s literacy and numeracy coordinator, Jennifer Andrews said Mr Heffernan’s workshops were engaging for the students but more importantly, as a local, he can show the students what is possible.

“It makes this possible for them, it shows it’s a potential career for them,” she said.

Mrs Andrews commented on Mr Heffernan’s delivery during his book reading - she said ‘he is great with the kids, he is such a character and he brings the characters to life’.

Mr Heffernan said what he likes to develop in the children is ‘a head for tales’.

“Just like a movie person will develop things in a visual sense ... I like to get these young writers to see the world in stories,” he said.

Mr Heffernan said he told the students how his life experiences influence his work and their life experiences can do the same.

“I try to get them to realise you can use yourself in your stories - they’re the experts on themselves.”

While in Armidale Mrs Andrews said Mr Heffernan also met with about 40 teachers speaking ‘about how some of his books came about, sharing the different dimensions and themes and the threads of continuity through his books’.