In Black and White

A killer is on the loose in an Australian country town. Excited for the June long weekend, bubbly 23-year-old Rachelle Childs leaves work, calls her sister, and is dead within hours. Her burning, partially naked body is found nine hours later in bushland on a lonely coastal road. Her killer has never been caught. Now innocent people, once too afraid to speak, are breaking their silence. If you&rsq...

In the very last of our great history stories, we turn to Harry Houdini, one of the great magicians in history, and his time in Australia. His tale is told by Andrew McConville, from State Library Victoria. There are almost 280 stories in the In Black and White show, and they're all available for free in this podcast feed. As we say goodbye after five ears unearthing colourful stories from our pas...

In the very last of our great history stories, we turn to Harry Houdini, one of the great magicians in history, and his time in Australia. His tale is told by Andrew McConville, from State Library Victoria. There are almost 280 stories in the In Black and White show, and they're all available for free in this podcast feed. As we say goodbye after five ears unearthing colourful stories from our pas...

WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT. George Melville was a daring highwayman who pulled off one of Australia's biggest heists. But when the law caught up with him, his fate was most gruesome indeed. Damien Beard from Pentridge Prison Tours joins the show with more. Warning: This series contains discussions of self harm. If you or anyone you know needs help: Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 Kid...

WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT. George Melville was a daring highwayman who pulled off one of Australia's biggest heists. But when the law caught up with him, his fate was most gruesome indeed. Damien Beard from Pentridge Prison Tours joins the show with more. Warning: This series contains discussions of self harm. If you or anyone you know needs help: Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 Kid...

With the Paris Olympics in the books, we tell the tale of Cecil Healy, a champion swimmer who innovated in the pool. But it's for an amazing act of sportsmanship that he should perhaps be best remembered. Military historian Mat McLachlan joins the show for part 2 of a bonus two-part series. Learn more about Mat's work at:  https://battlefields.com.au/ Like the show? Go to:  heraldsun.com.au/ibaw  ...

With the Paris Olympics in the books, we tell the tale of Cecil Healy, a champion swimmer who innovated in the pool. But it's for an amazing act of sportsmanship that he should perhaps be best remembered. Military historian Mat McLachlan joins the show for part 1 of a bonus two-part series. Learn more about Mat's work at: https://battlefields.com.au/ Like the show? Go to:  heraldsun.com.au/ibaw  f...

To the outside world, Monte Punshon was utterly respectable. But her perfect 19th-century diction disguised her wild past as a bad girl who hung out at edgy Melbourne bars and secret drag parties and was monitored in the lead-up to WWII by security services who suspected her Japanese teacher was a spy. The ANU's Tessa Morris-Suzuki joins the show to talk about the woman dubbed "the world's oldest...

Rosaleen Norton was a bohemian artist and occultist who horrified Australian society in the 1950s. There were wild tales of devil worship, satanic rituals, blood sacrifices and sex orgies. But were they true? Author Peter Coleman is here to sort the fact from the fiction for us. Get Peter’s book at: https://affirmpress.com.au/browse/book/Peter-Coleman-Australia's-Most-Bizarre-Crimes-9781923046269...

Harry Freame was raised in Japan under the ancient bushido code but wound up fighting for Australia. But was this Anzac hero betrayed by his nation? His story is told in a new book called The Bravest Scout at Gallipoli by Ryan Butta. Get Ryan’s book at:  https://affirmpress.com.au/browse/book/Ryan-Butta-Bravest-Scout-at-Gallipoli-9781922992086 Like the show? Go to  heraldsun.com.au/ibaw  for more....

Harry Freame was raised in Japan under the ancient bushido code but wound up fighting for Australia. But was this Anzac hero betrayed by his nation? His story is told in a new book called The Bravest Scout at Gallipoli by Ryan Butta. Get Ryan’s book at:  https://affirmpress.com.au/browse/book/Ryan-Butta-Bravest-Scout-at-Gallipoli-9781922992086 Like the show? Go to  heraldsun.com.au/ibaw  for more....

When Marie Grunke entered a strict convent in Melbourne in the 1960s, she couldn’t tell anyone her shameful pregnancy secret. But Marie’s story would have a surprising ending. Her story is told in a new book called Unconventional Women: The Story of the Last Blessed Sacrament Sisters in Australia, by writer Sarah Gilbert, who joins the show with more. Get Sarah's book at:  https://www.mup.com.au/b...

When Marie Grunke entered a strict convent in Melbourne in the 1960s, she couldn’t tell anyone her shameful pregnancy secret. But Marie’s story would have a surprising ending. Her story is told in a new book called Unconventional Women: The Story of the Last Blessed Sacrament Sisters in Australia, by writer Sarah Gilbert, who joins the show with more. Get Sarah's book at:  https://www.mup.com.au/b...

He was known as one of the men who told Australians what was happening in the Gallipoli campaign. But at a place named Krithia, Charles Bean risked his life to place himself at the heart of the action. Military historian Mat McLachlan joins the show with more. Get Mat's book at:  https://www.hachette.com.au/mat-mclachlan/krithia-the-forgotten-anzac-battle-of-gallipoli Like the show? Go to  heralds...

One of the enduring images of the Rum Rebellion is of Governor William Bligh cowering under his bed as the mob draws near. But it was his daughter Mary who owned the hour - keeping armed rebels at bay using nothing but her parasol. Author and Journalist Sue Williams joins the show with more. Learn more about That Bligh Girl at: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Sue-Williams-That-Bligh-Girl...

When stories of the Kelly Gang are written, it's always their charismatic leader who grabs the spotlight. But Joseph Byrne lived his own very colourful life. Author Georgina Phelan outlines how the young bushranger went from larrikin to outlaw. To order the book, visit https://anoutlawsjournal.wordpress.com/2024/06/27/author-signed-copies-of-joseph-byrne-from-larrikin-to-outlaw/ Like the show? Go...

WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT. The last photos ever taken of  Edward Feeney and Charles Marks showed them holding hands and pointing guns at each other. What happened next was a bizarre case that saw one man dead and the other on trial for murder. Historian Michael Adams, host of the Forgotten Australia podcast, joins the show with more. More about Forgotten Australia at: https://forgottenaustralia....

WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT. The last photos ever taken of  Edward Feeney and Charles Marks showed them holding hands and pointing guns at each other. What happened next was a bizarre case that saw one man dead and the other on trial for murder. Historian Michael Adams, host of the Forgotten Australia podcast, joins the show with more. More about Forgotten Australia at: https://forgottenaustralia....

Jean Lee was sentenced to die by 12 good men and true for the gruesome torture and murder of an SP bookie in Carlton in 1949. But was the last woman executed in Australia just covering for her outlaw lover?  Pentridge Prison Tours guide Damien Beard joins the show with more. Like the show? Get features, backgrounders and more at:  heraldsun.com.au/ibaw See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

Jean Lee was sentenced to die by 12 good men and true for the gruesome torture and murder of an SP bookie in Carlton in 1949. But was the last woman executed in Australia just covering for her outlaw lover?  Pentridge Prison Tours guide Damien Beard joins the show with more. Like the show? Get features, backgrounders and more at:  heraldsun.com.au/ibaw   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

During World War I, Letitia Leake may have looked like a proper and patriotic English lady. But her childhood - half a world away - was a saga of alleged murder, infidelity, bigamy and corruption. Professor Carol Grbich, co-author of The Accidental Heiress, joins the show with more. To order the book, visit  www.adelaidebooksellers.com.au Like the show? Get features, backgrounders and more at:  he...

During World War I, Letitia Leake may have looked like a proper and patriotic English lady. But her childhood - half a world away - was a saga of alleged murder, infidelity, bigamy and corruption. Professor Carol Grbich, co-author of The Accidental Heiress, joins the show with more. To order the book, visit  www.adelaidebooksellers.com.au Like the show? Get features, backgrounders and more at:  he...

Before Ned Kelly, the bushranger that most struck fear into the hearts of lawmen was Dan Morgan. And while he started out as a champion of the downtrodden, Morgan became increasingly unhinged and dangerous, and was once named the most bloodthirsty ruffian that ever took to the bush. Historian Aidan Phelan joins the show with more.   More on Phelan's research and books: https://aguidetoaustralianbu...

Before Ned Kelly, the bushranger that most struck fear into the hearts of lawmen was Dan Morgan. And while he started out as a champion of the downtrodden, Morgan became increasingly unhinged and dangerous, and was once named the most bloodthirsty ruffian that ever took to the bush. Historian Aidan Phelan joins the show with more.   More on Phelan's research and books: https://aguidetoaustralianbu...

Running away to join the circus has been the quixotic goal of many the bored teenager. But by the time Mabel Worley took that path, her life was anything but ordinary. Corinne Ball, senior curator at the History Trust of South Australia, joins the show to tell the tale. More about Corinne's book at: https://scholarly.info/book/three-ring-circus/ Like the show? Get features and more at  heraldsun.c...