From alleyway gangsters to cold war spies to eccentric entrepreneurs, Australian history is full of colourful but forgotten characters. Host Jen Kelly talks with experts, historians and yarn spinners to uncover the untold stories of some of our most interesting and offbeat ancestors.
Author Graham Addison recounts a swashbuckling tale of Aussie thrillseekers, secret codes hidden in the Bible, aristocrats, psychics, bribery, gun-running, riots, and a deadly curse. This is the first in a two part series on the real life raiders of the lost ark. More at: https://grahamaddison.com/ Like the show? Get backgrounders and more at http://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When two bush bandits cornered and killed two men including a police officer in the wilds of central Queensland, the murders were just the start of the grisly tale. More info at: https://www.gravetales.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As young Aussie men fought in the trenches of WW1, a rural Queensland pastor found his war was closer to home.Christian Seybold was accused of preaching pro-German sentiment and found himself a virtual prisoner of war in his own country.Like the show? Read more at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When a plane full of men went missing in the early days of Australian aviation, it was one wily bushman who saved the day. Like In Black and White? Go to: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/in-black-and-white Learn more about Grave Tales: https://www.gravetales.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
WWII squadron leader John Jackson was needlessly killed in what author Michael Veitch calls one of the most tragic stories of the RAAF’s 100-year history. Read more tales of adventure at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw More about Michael Veitch at: https://www.hachette.com.au/michael-veitch/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Author Michael Veitch joins the show to tell Jen the remarkable story of John Jackson, a WW2 flyboy who survived being shot down, only to find himself stuck behind enemy lines in New Guinea. Read more tales of adventure at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw More about Michael Veitch at: https://www.hachette.com.au/michael-veitch/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Over 40 years ago, in the golden age of racing, a punter named Kev Cain reached in his pocket and placed a $6 bet. By the end of the day he was sitting on $86000. This is the story of one of Australia's luckiest streaks. Like the show? Go to https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more Get more info about Andrew Rule's book at: https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781760987718/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
RAAF gunner turned winemaker Colin Gramp wasn't the inventor of the famous bag in a box wine, but his brand Orlando was instrumental in bringing it to the homes, parks and beaches of everyday Australians. Like In Black and White? get more at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Satisfaction was demanded when two of Melbourne's finest lined up to settle their differences. But the result was a comic mess. Like the show? get features, backgrounders and more at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As Melbourne boomed with gold rush cash, one medic found an ingenious way to spruik his venereal disease cures. Get background to this story and much more at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In his short life George Coulthard kicked goald for Carlton, started a riots Sydney and crossed paths with a future PM. Get background to this story and much more at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
After a German sub sank a ship carrying British civilians fleeing the horrors of World War 2, Aussie flyer Bill Garing spearheaded a daring rescue. Like the show? got to https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
James Beaney was a colourful surgeon and shameless self promoter who would operate when no others would dare. And not even a pair of gory deaths could curtail his career. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As her hospital was bombed during World War I, Rachel Pratt kept on doing what she’d always done – treating her wounded patients. The nurse from Melbourne kept on working until she collapsed after shrapnel from a bomb pierced her lung. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The bestselling Australian-born author known as “Elizabeth” had good reason to hide her true identity, but the world’s press was determined to unmask her. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When convict banter baffled judges in early colonial Australia, they turned to James Hardy Vaux, who published a dictionary of slang - that included many words still in use today. Like In Black and White? Read more at https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ibaw See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Billy Caffyn was an all-rounder star of English cricket, who found himself teaching Australia to play the game. But after wowing Melbourne, his next move left everyone stunned See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Augusta the “giantess” was a superstar of the travelling show circuit at the turn of last century. And the super-sized and super-strong solo performer wowed the country with her feats of strength. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In one 24-hour 1000km ride, Hubert Opperman set 100 distance records, including many that remained unbroken for decades. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As a pioneer in the early days of aviation, 21-year-old Nancy Bird Walton became the first Australian woman to run a commercial air service. Like the show? Read more at: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ibaw See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When his ship was wrecked off the Australian coast in violent seas, Matthew Flinders channelled his fictional hero and helped 94 people survive three months on a desert island. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In England he was a convicted theif from an oppressed minority, but when James Squire was transported to Australia, it gave him the opportunity to build an empire. Read great tales of Australian history at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Percy Grainger was renowned as a musical prodigy, but it was his bizarre pastimes from self-flagellation to making his own towelling clothes that set him apart from other brilliant composers. Get history features and much more at heraldsun.com.au/ibaw See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Author Jim Haynes joins the show again to tell the story of Annette Kellerman, and her extraordinary rise from crippled child to international swimming star. Get history features and much more at heraldsun.com.au/ibaw See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A new book explains why adventurer, journalist, secret agent and political dynamo George Morrison was “the most influential Australian who ever strode the planet”. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Douglas Grant survived a massacre as a child to go on to serve as one of the few indigenous soldiers in the First World War. The Australian War Memorial's Michael Bell joins the show to tell the story of a proud Australian man who never felt like he fit in. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When Australian adventurer Keith Jack was stranded after his ship vanished, it would have been easy to quit. Instead, he achieved the unimaginable. Like the show? Get backgrounders and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibaw See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
AB 'Banjo' Paterson is well known as the lyricist behind the classic song 'Waltzing Matilda', but the music was contributed by Christina MacPherson, a woman with her own remarkable tale. Chris Adams, author of the Grave Tales series of books joins Jen to tell Christina's story. Like the show? Get background articles and more at https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ibaw More on Grave tales at https://www.gravetales.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
When Sam Knott explained he 'allus has wan at eleven' when a photgrapher asked why he drank before noon, it became the start of one of Australia's biggest advertising campaigns. Jen Kelly talks with author Chris Adams about the tale. Like the show? go to https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more. Read more from Chris' Grave Tales series - go to: https://www.gravetales.com.au/ for more info. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
After escaping a POW camp and across the sea, Australian officer Jock McLaren fought the Japanese behind enemy lines alongside Filipino guerillas for two years. Like the podcast? Get backgrounders, photos and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibaw See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
