Chris Valli/Journalist

31/08/2025

Publisher confirmed and locked in. Looking forward to the ongoing collaboration with Austin Macauley Publishers (London, Cambridge, New York and Sharjah based). Looking forward to getting this yarn out there but of course, good things come to those who wait....

Chapter 9: Community Journalist

In June, a story I penned which had a regional and national impact, news wise, was when seven lives were lost from a Filipino community in a head on car crash with a truck south of Picton.

Initial reports of the accident had come via Newstalk ZB with all sorts of innuendo about how the crash took place from fatigue to speeding to crossing the centre line. The pictures taken from
the New Zealand Herald photographer George Heard certainly told the story and the aftermath of the collision. It gave one perspective and a sense of being grateful for their own loved ones.

I was proud of what I was doing - as the sole journalist and writing 10 - 15 stories weekly across a variety of subjects and the community, the people that called Marlborough home. I thrived on getting one story over the competition that was now online (Stuff/Marlborough Express and Marlborough Weekly) and wanted to convey to loyal readers the emotions and people behind the narratives and not just the topics or impending issues. What became apparent was the amount of fundraising stories right across the community and various sectors - people were
constantly asking for help and people’s spare change. There wasn’t a great deal of disposable income and the community grassroots was testimony to that.

25/08/2025

21/08/2025

Chris Valli’s behaviour as a teacher was called “mind boggling” and “disgraceful”, and it cost him his career. But he says it’s time to tell his side of the story ‒ and he’s got the backing of a lofty-sounding international publisher.

20/08/2025

Everyone has a story and yet I never thought mine was of any value, vindication or purpose. Incredibly humbled by the feedback and support - McConway to get 'Put the Phone Away' out there. Story by Kelly Dennett - Sunday Star Times/The Post to come this weekend - thanks Kelly for reaching out. Vulnerability is the new tough pill. Time to find solutions to screen time, teacher burnout and living honestly by one's value. Publication date to come - watch this space 🙂 Melissa Groom

03/08/2025

Failures - there's been a few; personal and professional. And here I am sharing such vulnerability on Linkedin to people I know personally and those who are just a name.

Why a book they ask? Why now? What do you hope to achieve? How much money will you make - what are the royalties? Why? Because the headline was bold and hurt and opened a can of worms like you wouldn't believe. As the journalist telling others stories, it was time to tell mine - my truth, my voice, my failures - my growth - and good golly, there's been a plethora of that....and then some!

'Put the Phone Away' - is about pausing, breathing, reevaluating and rebranding Chris Valli - version 2025 - it's about fulfilment, transitioning into a vocation with purpose, clarity and difference. A story on I've been there, it was tough and yet, I'm still standing and dancing once again, like nobody's watching. hashtag yettocome

“The challenges we face in life are not meant to be some sort of punishment, rather they are an invitation to change and an opportunity to create something even better than before.”

- Sam Cawthorn - 2009 Young Australian of the Year for Tasmania and motivational speaker, author and entrepreneur.

31/07/2025

Publisher confirmed and locked in. Looking forward to the ongoing collaboration with Austin Macauley Publishers (London, Cambridge, New York and Sharjah based). Looking forward to getting this yarn out there but of course, good things come to those who wait....

Chapter 8: Vulnerability/Arts 101

I was to be on what was known as ‘Discretionary Leave’, defined as leave an employer may grant to an employee. Essentially, it’s a decision made by the employer on a case - by-case basis. It was weird to say the least. One moment I’m teaching Year 9 drama, the next moment I was no longer there with the classroom resources, books, files etc left in the classroom while I still was in possession of the classroom and hall (where I did practicals) keys.

One of my earlier stories was on Doug Avery, a Seddon farmer who I met at his Witherlea home for a chat about his book, The Resilient Farmer, the synopsis around how he weathered eight years of drought suffering depression and changed direction in his life and farming, crediting lucerne for building resilience in the family farm, Bonavaree, in Marlborough. The book would sell about 30, 000 copies worldwide. Here’s the thing. He cried in front of me and displayed the most palpable vulnerability I had ever encountered (I thought I was doing it tough). Yes indeed, everybody has a story and Doug was about to tell me his. The emotion was authentic and I felt honoured to hear his back-story and his wellness journey. It was a phrase I was to internally use myself over the
next few years. We hugged and cried and I told him my own journey, that I was ‘under investigation’ and what my next steps were? His story was engaging and authentic and in no way did I empathise with his story but there was compassion and a sense of humility about it and I wanted to write, show, tell
stories like Doug’s the region's readers.

The irony being there was an inner dialogue about my own mental health, wanting desperately to open my own narrative and 'call for help'.

30/07/2025

Hey Chris....just a quick flyby to say hi & let you know I listened to your basket of knowledge podcast yesterday. Really proud of you old buddy.

First of all its so surreal to be able to hear you rambling on, your voice after all these years but also with such honesty, self deprecating humour and transparency. I can’t wait to read your book & am wishing only good things for you going forward on your journey.

Obviously the past few years have been so harrowing for you, alongside some no doubt thoroughly gorgeous snippets with that beautiful daughter of yours.

It was a fantastic listen. Just thought I would pass that on.

Love & light ❤️
From a slightly older, much greyer but no less ridiculously good lookin’ Aussie battler

Nickers x

🧠 He lost his job. 💔 His marriage ended. 📱 A single moment in the classroom changed everything. But that’s not the whole story. In our latest Baskets of Knowledge episode, we sit down with Chris Valli, former teacher, now writer and speaker—who shares his raw journey through burnout, pu...

30/07/2025

🧠 He lost his job. 💔 His marriage ended. 📱 A single moment in the classroom changed everything. But that’s not the whole story. In our latest Baskets of Knowledge episode, we sit down with Chris Valli, former teacher, now writer and speaker—who shares his raw journey through burnout, pu...

27/03/2025

Making art with children isn’t for every parent. For many, play will mean kicking or throwing a ball in the yard. That’s important, too, but for those hard questions children have about the world, the arts provide a process for them to think and express their worries and fears in ways words simply can’t do on their own. Making art together as parent and child is an invaluable way to connect and establish fresh relationships.In the distraction of being busy with our hands, deliberate “accidental” talk allows us to talk openly about feelings and fears.

Dr Peter O'Connor

Send a message to learn more