1 JUL 2024 · In 1946, on the back of decades and generations of racist government and pastoralist policy 800 First Nations people walked off the stations they'd been assigned in the Pilbara Region, risking prosecution and assault by the law-keepers. Three years later, the strike broke, but only through underhanded tactics by the government and farmers put out by the strike. This was a failed strike in terms of their £1 per week demands, but in terms of scaring the Western Australian government and gathering sympathy in the people of Perth, it was a winner. This was the longest industrial action strike in Australia's history. More would follow, but we pay tributes to the original, and the chain of actions their strike spawned. Join Holly & Matthew as they read up on the strike, the people, and the repercussions.

24 JUN 2024 · When Americans talk about how dangerous our country is, especially with our snake, spider and drop bear populations, most Australians laugh. How could anyone who lives in the same space as a mountain lion, a grizzly bear and a coyote really think our animals are dangerous? What, you think the cuddly koala or the beefy wombat could kill you? It turns out that Americans might be right after all. Join Holly & Matthew as they explore the world of the Wombat, its ancient stories, and some terrifying encounters. ____ The story of Mirram The Kangaroo and Warreen The Wombat can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDJrnldb08o

17 JUN 2024 · The Twelve Tribes cult established its first community in Australia in the late 1990s. Known for its communal lifestyle and strict adherence to a unique interpretation of the Bible, the Twelve Tribes attracted followers seeking a close-knit, spiritual community. However, the group has faced significant controversy, including allegations of child labor, physical punishment, and indoctrination. The Australian branches of the Twelve Tribes have been investigated multiple times for their treatment of children and their isolationist practices. In 2020, their ex-leader was murdered. Join Holly & Matthew as they look into the unique branch of the Twelve tribes Cult that calls the Blue Mountains home, their history, and their controversies.

10 JUN 2024 · Eighteen-year-old Niamh Maye disappeared on Easter Sunday, 2002, near Tumut, New South Wales. Having traveled to the Riverina region for a gap year with two friends, Niamh was last seen getting into a black hearse with a man she met on the road, Jack Nicklason. Despite extensive searches, no trace of her has been found. The main suspect in her disappearance, Nicklason, was arrested for the rape of a 19-year-old in October that year and committed suicide, leaving many questions unanswered. Maye's disappearance remains one of Australia's enduring mysteries, fed by small town gossip and uncertain sources. Efforts by law enforcement and appeals for information continue, but her case remains unsolved, leaving her family and friends without closure. Join Holly and Tumut-area expert Matthew as they look into the case, where it went wrong, ad who might have been responsible for diverting police attention from the more probable killing ground.

3 JUN 2024 · In 1969, man walked on the moon. In 2000, someone made a film about the unsung heroes.  NASA's Apollo 11 mission, featuring astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, successfully landed on the moon. Australians played a crucial role in this historic event, with the Parkes Observatory and Honeysuckle Creek tracking station providing vital communication support. These facilities broadcast Armstrong's first steps to the world, symbolizing global unity and the shared human spirit of exploration. Join Holly and Matthew as they contextualise both the film and the event, their influences on their respective histories, and world around them. Bonus conspiracy theories!ac

27 MAY 2024 · In 1977, Griffith-based anti-drug campaigner Don Mackay disappeared, and despite strong suspicions of mafia involvement, his body was never found. The case remains unresolved, an intriguing mystery that continues to haunt and captivate those fascinated by the dark underworld of organized crime. Will he ever be found? That's something only the fishes can answer.  Join Holly & Matthew as they close out Year 6 with a close look at the case, the suspects, and the trade. Sources used:  - Donald Bruce (Don) Mackay (1933–1977) | C. A. Gregory | Australian Dictionary of Biography | 2000 | Volume 15 | https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mackay-donald-bruce-don-10976 - Drug case: $1m reward plan | The Canberra Times | 26 Jul 1977 | Page 3 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110856526  - Drugs truth will come out: Wran | The Canberra Times | 22 Jul 1977 | Page 1 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110855965 - Forty years after Donald Mackay's murder, the Calabrian mafia still thrives | Lesley Hicks | Sydney Morning Herald | 14 Jul 2017 | https://www.smh.com.au/opinion/organised-crime-thrives-40-years-after-the-donald-mackay-murder-20170709-gx7sg4.html - Heartache has no end for family of Donald Mackay | Tony Wright | The Age | April 30, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110510102950/http://www.theage.com.au/national/heartache-has-no-end-for-family-of-donald-mackay-20110429-1e0if.html - Inquest to be held on Mackay | The Canberra Times | 12 Dec 1981 | Page 3 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126864914 - James 'Machine Gun' Bazley dies with his lips sealed over Donald Mackay murder | Paige Cockburn | 2 Nov 2018 | https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-02/donald-mackay-murder-james-bazley-dead/10458946 - Mackay case prompts drugs commission call | The Canberra Times| Tue 19 Jul 1977 | Page 6 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110855547 - Mackay was dumped in river, police told | The Canberra Times | 16 Jun 1983 | Page 3 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131849589 - New clues in Donald Mackay murder case | Mark Morris, Clementine Cuneo and Leigh Van Den Broeke | Adelaide Now | 19 Jun 2013 | https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/new-clues-in-donald-mackay-murder-case/news-story/ee4e160ba59520c0860276cf6bc1c8cf - Notification Of The Appointment Of Trustees Under Section 26 Of The Crown Lands Consolidation Act, 1913 | Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales | 14 Apr 1972 [Issue No.40] | Page 1339 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/220140256 - Royal Commission into Drug Trafficking [Woodward Royal Commission] | State Records Archives Investigator | Agency Detail | https://web.archive.org/web/20120411044444/http://investigator.records.nsw.gov.au/Entity.aspx?Path=%5CAgency%5C2125 - RSL head warns of 'mob rule on grand scale' | The Canberra Times | 20 Jul 1977 | Page 10 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11085578  - Tale of the Mafia among the vineyards - in Australia | Kathy Marks | The Independent (UK) | 27 Feb 2009 | https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/tale-of-the-mafia-among-the-vineyards-in-australia-1634115.html - Twisting trail that led to Mackay’s murderer | Sydney Morning Herald | Page 7 | 17 Apr 1986 | https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xrcyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eOgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4704%2C607758

20 MAY 2024 · When the Pope and the Toad died 2 months apart in 1963/64, chaos overtook the Melbourne arm of the Honorable Society. Men were shot in the streets, in their driveways, and in their beds as the search for the new heads of power came to a close. Join Holly & Matthew as they look into the series of shotgun killings known as the Victoria Market Murders, and their impact on the peace of the city. Sources used:  - £5,000 Reward For Murder Evidence | The Canberra Times | 18 Jan 1964 | Page 4 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131739976 - 3rd 'Mafia Type' Killing | The Canberra Times | Fri 17 Jan 1964 | Page 3 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131739820 - Cold Case file remains open on the suspected Mafia slaying of Vincenzo and Alfonso Muratore | Keith Moor | Herald Sun | 25 Mar 2013 | https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/cold-case-files-remain-open-on-vincenzo-and-alfonso-muratore/news-story/33856e7d08d84992001149e86d5eace8 - Coroner commits man over shotgun killing | The Canberra Times | 29 Sep 1964 | Page 17 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131751627 - Denies Any Part in Victoria Market Shooting | The Age | 9 Dec 1964 | Page 15 | https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age/128738552/ - Domenico Demarte, victim of the Queen Victoria Market Murders, Melbourne, 1963 | The Age | 7 Feb 2015 | https://consumer.licensing-publishing.nine.com.au/archive/2ITPN4NTR0KS - Mafia in Australia : NDRANGHETA: IL CRIMINE AUSTRALIANO Part 4: The Market Murders | “Steve” | 25 Apr 2024 | https://mafiainaustralia.wordpress.com/part-4-the-market-murders/ - Market Shooting | The Age | 9 Dec 1964 | Page 15 | https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age/128738552/ - Secret dossiers probed Godfathers behind Melbourne's mafia bloodshed in the 1960s | Keith Moor | Herald Sun | 13 Jul 2013 | https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/secret-dossiers-probed-godfathers-behind-melbourne8217s-mafia-bloodshed-in-the-1960s/news-story/94f47899aeb832e720676efa3443d7bd - Three Men On Murder Charge | The Argus | Wed 21 Nov 1945 | Page 7 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12154422  - Vincenzo Angilletta (1916-1963) - Find a Grave Memorial | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/66110811/vincenzo-angilletta

13 MAY 2024 · The Black Hand Gang's reign of terror from 1929 to 1938 left a chilling imprint on Australia. From Jean Morris's tragic murder to a series of mysterious deaths in Ingham, their ruthless tactics instilled fear across communities. Despite law enforcement's efforts, their legacy endures as a reminder of organized crime's dark underbelly. As whispers of their deeds echo through history, the tale of the Black Hand Gang serves as a cautionary reminder of the lengths to which criminal organizations will go to maintain power and control. Join Holly & Matthew as they look into the activity and the consequences of the Gang's reign in Queensland. Sources used:  - "Black Hand" In Q'land | Truth| 16 Jun 1935 | Page 24 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/169347220 - Black Hand Menace | Truth | 14 Jan 1934 | Page 1 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/198667940 - Boogan Murder | The Brisbane Courier | 26 Oct 1928 | Page 16 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/21327815 - Brutal Murder of Queensland Cane Farmer | Truth | 8 Dec 1935 | Page 1 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/169352884 - Domenico Antonio Strano (1893-1965) - Mémorial Find a Grave | https://fr.findagrave.com/memorial/188401281/domenico-antonio-strano - Facing Death, Italian Refuses To Speak | Truth | 26 Aug 1928 | Page 17 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206148224 - Girl's Story Of Dread Ordeal | Truth| 12 Feb 1933 | Page 10 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206125350 - House Bombed | The Telegraph | 22 May 1935 |Page 2 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/182431936  - Italian Murdered | The Mercury | 8 Mar 1934 | Page 11 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/24917024 - Mafia in Australia : NDRANGHETA: IL CRIMINE AUSTRALIANO Part 1: The Black Hand | “Steve” | 14 Jul 2023 | https://mafiainaustralia.wordpress.com/the-mafia-in-australia-introduction-early-history-of-italians-down-under/queensland-black-hand/ - 'Oxley's Roads' | The Biz | 27 Mar 1952 | Page 6 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/75594546 - Pay... or else: the Black Hand reaches out again on the canefields | The Daily Telegraph | 17 Dec 1939 | Page 15 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/247823119 - Serious Offence | The Central Queensland Herald | 29 Dec 1932 | Page 2 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/70304803 - Terror in the cane fields | Georgina Hitch | ABC |27 Jun 2023 | https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-27/the-black-hand-terror-cane-fields-far-north-queensland/102329810 - The Boogan Murder Left The Police Baffled | Daily Standard | 6 Aug 1932 | Page 3 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/182812777 - Two Italians Charged | The Argus | 18 Dec 1925 | Page 21 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2174136

6 MAY 2024 · - Jean Morris's murder in 1932 remains a haunting enigma with a simple answer. Found stabbed 43 times in her home, suspicions fell on her Italian associates Joe Maganetti and Michael Gudas. - The brutality suggested the involvement of foreign criminal elements, possibly by the notorious Black Hand. Italian national Vincenzo Dagostino emerged as a suspect, allegedly ordering her death for rejecting his advances and knowing too much about Mafia activities.  - As the investigation intensified, the shadows of conspiracy grew darker, leaving Jean Morris's death a chilling tale of crime and secrets. - Join Holly & Matthew as they begin their journey into the secrets of L'Onorata Societa - the Honored Society.  Sources Used: - A Ghastly Tragedy | Townsville Daily Bulletin | 5 Oct 1932 | Page 6 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/61693594 - Cairns Items | Townsville Daily Bulletin | 31 Mar 1933 | Page 9 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/61381289 - From The Vault – Murder of ‘Stiletto Jean’ Morris | QPS Media | Oct 28, 2022 | https://mypolice.qld.gov.au/museum/2022/10/28/vault-murder-stiletto-jean-morris/ - Many Stabs | The Sun | 4 Oct 1932 | Page 9 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/229254133 - Murdered sex worker Jean Morris's body lays in an unmarked grave in north Queensland — now locals want to change that | Baz Ruddick and Jessica Naunton | 25 Feb 2024 | https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-25/jean-morris-murdered-grave-headstone-north-queensland/103503982 - No Fresh Light | Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette |16 Mar 1933 | Page 7 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/254299139?searchTerm=Jean%20morris%20inquiry - Stab Frenzy | The Sun |5 Oct 1932 | Page 15 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/229259473 - Terror in the canefields | Georgia Hitch | 27 Jun 2023 | ABC |https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-27/the-black-hand-terror-cane-fields-far-north-queensland/102329810 - The Ayr Murder | Cairns Post | 31 Mar 1933 | Page 8 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/41192651 - The O'Driscoll Memoirs | Truth | 30 Jul 1950 | Page 13 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/201435822

29 APR 2024 · "Ferals" was an Australian children's TV gem that aired on ABC from 1994 to 1995. In a zany share-house setting, puppet pals like Rattus P. Rattus and Mixy wreaked havoc, challenging their human landlord, Joe, at every turn. With uproarious antics and a rebellious spirit, this cult classic delivered laughs and life lessons in equal measure, captivating young audiences Down Under with its unforgettable characters and offbeat charm. Join Holly & Matthew as they wander down Nostalgia Avenue again, and argue about what the Ferals actually were. Clips copyright of their respective owners.  Sources Used: - Feral Minds - Feral TV Ep 2 Series 2 | 11 Jul 2023 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieJsFmsdM64 - Feral TV Intro | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWlx0F0Pd3w - Obviously Fantasy | Margot Date | The Canberra Times | Mon 13 Mar 1995 | Page 5 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127517655 - Teletubbies: Ned’s Bicycle |Torres News | Feb 13 1998 | Page 1 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/254380345 - The Ferals – An Explosion of Talent | Australian Screen | Tammy Burnstock | https://aso.gov.au/titles/tv/the-ferals-explosion-of-talent/notes/ - The Ferals - S01-E01- An Explosion Of Talent | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4UED_cHDOY - The Ferals Intro/Opening | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSC4pZBYcsg - The Ferals were dangerous. We need them on kids' TV more than ever, puppeteer says | Leigh Tonkin, Dave May and Richard Mockler | ABC | 25 Aug 2018| https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-26/the-ferals-puppeteer-tina-matthews/10159876 - Tina Matthew’s creations: The Ferals “spoke what was unspeakable” | Throwback | ABC | 28 Aug 2018 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuEPzwTHrOs - Toni Collette auditioned for The Ferals…and more things you didn't know about the cult '90s TV show | 9 Honey | Yasmin Vought | April 08, 2016 | https://celebrity.nine.com.au/tv/toni-collette-auditioned-for-the-ferals-and-more-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-cult-90s-tv-show/6f98c5f2-88a7-494c-9061-b4ec02d51fd5