Weird Crap in Australia

In this series, we take on the truest form of gaslighting history to dive deep into the life and legacy of Captain James Cook, the legendary British explorer known for his voyages to the Pacific. While his adventures and discoveries have been celebrated for centuries, many myths and misconceptions about his life and actions persist.

From his humble beginnings and early naval career that shaped him into a master navigator, his first Pacific expedition where he charted New Zealand and the eastern coast of Australia, and common myths about his interactions with indigenous peoples, his supposed brutality, and the true nature of his death in Hawaii, so many stories and legends have popped up, not helped in the least by British propaganda.  

Join Holly & Matthew as they separate fact from fiction, exploring the true story of Captain James Cook, and debunking the myths of his time. 

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In this series, we take on the truest form of gaslighting history to dive deep into the life and legacy of Captain James Cook, the legendary British explorer known for his voyages to the Pacific. While his adventures and discoveries have been celebrated for centuries, many myths and misconceptions about his life and actions persist.

From his humble beginnings and early naval career that shaped him into a master navigator, his first Pacific expedition where he charted New Zealand and the eastern coast of Australia, and common myths about his interactions with indigenous peoples, his supposed brutality, and the true nature of his death in Hawaii,somany stories and legends have popped up, not helped in the least by British propaganda.  

Join Holly & Matthew as they separate fact from fiction, exploring the true story of Captain James Cook, and debunking the myths of his time. 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In this series, we take on the truest form of gaslighting history to dive deep into the life and legacy of Captain James Cook, the legendary British explorer known for his voyages to the Pacific. While his adventures and discoveries have been celebrated for centuries, many myths and misconceptions about his life and actions persist.

From his humble beginnings and early naval career that shaped him into a master navigator, his first Pacific expedition where he charted New Zealand and the eastern coast of Australia, and common myths about his interactions with indigenous peoples, his supposed brutality, and the true nature of his death in Hawaii,somany stories and legends have popped up, not helped in the least by British propaganda.  

Join Holly & Matthew as they separate fact from fiction, exploring the true story of Captain James Cook, and debunking the myths of his time. 

***
"Great Southern Land" is by Icehouse.
"Bound for Botany Bay" is performed by John Williamson.

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Explore the stories and legacies of the earlier European discoverers who ventured into unknown territories long before Captain Cook.

In this episode, we'll discuss the misconceptions surrounding these pioneers, delving into their voyages, interactions with First Nations peoples, and the profound impacts they had on the New World.

From their motivations and navigational challenges to the lasting effects of their discoveries, we provide a comprehensive look at these adventurers. 

Join Holly & Matthew as they separate fact from fiction and uncover the true stories behind the legends of the early European explorers to Australian shores.

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The history of the Australian Football League (AFL) is rich and multifaceted, beginning in the mid-19th century. Australian Rules Football was officially codified in Melbourne in 1859, with the establishment of the Melbourne Football Club.

 The Victorian Football League (VFL), which would later become the AFL, was founded in 1896. The league expanded nationally in the 1980s and 1990s, evolving into the AFL in 1990.

Today, the AFL is the premier professional Australian Rules Football competition, boasting a passionate fan base and significant cultural impact in Australia. Join Holly & Matthew as they explore the League, its past, and its future.

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The history of the Australian Football League (AFL) is rich and multifaceted, beginning in the mid-19th century. Australian Rules Football was officially codified in Melbourne in 1859, with the establishment of the Melbourne Football Club.

 The Victorian Football League (VFL), which would later become the AFL, was founded in 1896. The league expanded nationally in the 1980s and 1990s, evolving into the AFL in 1990.

Today, the AFL is the premier professional Australian Rules Football competition, boasting a passionate fan base and significant cultural impact in Australia. Join Holly & Matthew as they explore the League, its past, and its future.

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In 1998, a home in Humpty Doo, NT, became the site of intense paranormal activity. Objects flew through the air, gravel and shells rained from the ceiling, and Scrabble tiles spelled eerie messages.

Priests, journalists, and police witnessed the chaos, which the residents linked to a deceased friend named 'Troy'. Despite multiple exorcism attempts, the poltergeist's violent behavior persisted until the tenants fled.

Join Holly & Matthew as they examine the Humpty Doo Poltergeist, Australia's most documented poltergeist.

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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.

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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.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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• 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
• 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

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"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

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On August 5, 1944, the Cowra breakout marked a significant event in Australian military history. Over 1,100 Japanese prisoners of war attempted to escape from the prisoner of war camp in Cowra, New South Wales, resulting in the largest prison break in Australian history. The breakout led to a violent confrontation between the prisoners and Australian guards, resulting in the deaths of 231 Japanese prisoners and four Australian soldiers, with many more wounded. The incident highlighted the challenges of managing prisoners of war during wartime and left a lasting impact on both Australian and Japanese societies. The Cowra breakout has since been commemorated through various memorials and remains a poignant reminder of the human cost of war.


TW: Suicide.

Sources used: 

• 900 Jap Prisoners Mutiny | The Daily News | 8 Sep 1944 | Page 1 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/78522978
• Banzai Charge at Cowra | History.net | https://www.historynet.com/banzai-charge-at-cowra/
• Blankets on the Wire (2006), Steven Bullard, Australian War Memorial, ISBN: 9780975190470
• Cowra breakout, 1944 | National Archives of Australia | https://www.naa.gov.au/help-your-research/fact-sheets/cowra-breakout-1944
• Cowra Camp. Prisoners of war-Japanese escapees. Prime Minister's statement and diary entries | Nathional Archives of Australia | NAA: SP112/1, M 57 Page 14 of 17 1944 https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Gallery151/dist/JGalleryViewer.aspx?B=267552&S=14&N=17&R=0#/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/ShowImage.aspx?B=267552&T=P&S=14
• Cowra prisoner of war breakout remembered | Max Blenkin | 4 Aug 2019 | https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/6308887/cowra-prisoner-of-war-breakout-remembered/
• FEATURES: The night the sky was glowing red | The Canberra Times | 9 Jul 1994 | Page 42 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118189979
• Japanese prisoner of war's ashes recovered in historic, emotional repatriation | Hannah Sinclair | SBS | 12 Sep 2015 | https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/japanese-prisoner-of-wars-ashes-recovered-in-historic-emotional-repatriation/jqswk5qck
• Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45 Prisoners of War | W. Wynne Mason 1954 | Victoria University of Wellington | https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Pris-_N95664.html
• Prisoners Of War Break From Camp At Cowra | The Sun | 5 Aug 1944 | Page 3 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231692065
• Prisoners of war break from camp at cowra | The Sun | 5 Aug 1944 | Page 3 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231692065
• The Bugle and the Breakout | Claire Hunter | Australian War Memorial | 30 Jul 2019 | https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/the-bugle-and-the-breakout
• The Cowra Breakout (2002), Mat McLachlan, Hachette Australia, ISBN: 9780733647628
• War prisoners escape from camp | The Daily Telegraph | 6 Aug 1944 | Page 1 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/247871178

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What do the Kokoda Trail, the Bombing of Darwin, the Brownout Strangler and Australian Codebreakers have in commmon?

The Cowra Breakout. 

The Cowra Breakout remains a special episode in Australia's wartime history, reflecting the complexities of captivity, resistance, and conflict. Its enduring legacy prompts continued examination of the human experience in times of war, offering insights into the psychological, social, and political dynamics that shape such events.

By delving into the motivations, actions, and consequences of both the prisoners and their captors, the Cowra Breakout invites deeper reflection on themes of resilience, identity, and the enduring quest for freedom. In a world still grappling with the scars of war, the Cowra Breakout stands as a reminder of the enduring pursuit of dignity and liberty amidst adversity.

Join Holly & Matthew as they look into the cause of the breakout, and link the event to 4 different events already covered (with more to come!)

Sources used: 

• 900 Jap Prisoners Mutiny | The Daily News | 8 Sep 1944 | Page 1 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/78522978
• Banzai Charge at Cowra | History.net | https://www.historynet.com/banzai-charge-at-cowra/
• Blankets on the Wire (2006), Steven Bullard, Australian War Memorial, ISBN: 9780975190470
• Cowra breakout, 1944 | National Archives of Australia | https://www.naa.gov.au/help-your-research/fact-sheets/cowra-breakout-1944
• Cowra Camp. Prisoners of war-Japanese escapees. Prime Minister's statement and diary entries | Nathional Archives of Australia | NAA: SP112/1, M 57 Page 14 of 17 1944 https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Gallery151/dist/JGalleryViewer.aspx?B=267552&S=14&N=17&R=0#/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/ShowImage.aspx?B=267552&T=P&S=14
• Cowra prisoner of war breakout remembered | Max Blenkin | 4 Aug 2019 | https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/6308887/cowra-prisoner-of-war-breakout-remembered/
• FEATURES: The night the sky was glowing red | The Canberra Times | 9 Jul 1994 | Page 42 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118189979
• Japanese prisoner of war's ashes recovered in historic, emotional repatriation | Hannah Sinclair | SBS | 12 Sep 2015 | https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/japanese-prisoner-of-wars-ashes-recovered-in-historic-emotional-repatriation/jqswk5qck
• Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45 Prisoners of War | W. Wynne Mason 1954 | Victoria University of Wellington | https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Pris-_N95664.html
• Prisoners Of War Break From Camp At Cowra | The Sun | 5 Aug 1944 | Page 3 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231692065
• Prisoners of war break from camp at cowra | The Sun | 5 Aug 1944 | Page 3 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231692065
• The Bugle and the Breakout | Claire Hunter | Australian War Memorial | 30 Jul 2019 | https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/the-bugle-and-the-breakout
• The Cowra Breakout (2002), Mat McLachlan, Hachette Australia, ISBN: 9780733647628
• War prisoners escape from camp | The Daily Telegraph | 6 Aug 1944 | Page 1 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/247871178

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What do the Kokoda Trail, the Bombing of Darwin, the Brownout Strangler and Australian Codebreakers have in commmon?

The Cowra Breakout. 

The Cowra Breakout remains a special episode in Australia's wartime history, reflecting the complexities of captivity, resistance, and conflict. Its enduring legacy prompts continued examination of the human experience in times of war, offering insights into the psychological, social, and political dynamics that shape such events.

By delving into the motivations, actions, and consequences of both the prisoners and their captors, the Cowra Breakout invites deeper reflection on themes of resilience, identity, and the enduring quest for freedom. In a world still grappling with the scars of war, the Cowra Breakout stands as a reminder of the enduring pursuit of dignity and liberty amidst adversity.

Join Holly & Matthew as they look into the cause of the breakout, and link the event to 4 different events already covered (with more to come!)

Sources used: 

• 900 Jap Prisoners Mutiny | The Daily News | 8 Sep 1944 | Page 1 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/78522978
• Banzai Charge at Cowra | History.net | https://www.historynet.com/banzai-charge-at-cowra/
• Blankets on the Wire (2006), Steven Bullard, Australian War Memorial, ISBN: 9780975190470
• Cowra breakout, 1944 | National Archives of Australia | https://www.naa.gov.au/help-your-research/fact-sheets/cowra-breakout-1944
• Cowra Camp. Prisoners of war-Japanese escapees. Prime Minister's statement and diary entries | Nathional Archives of Australia | NAA: SP112/1, M 57 Page 14 of 17 1944 https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Gallery151/dist/JGalleryViewer.aspx?B=267552&S=14&N=17&R=0#/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/ShowImage.aspx?B=267552&T=P&S=14
• Cowra prisoner of war breakout remembered | Max Blenkin | 4 Aug 2019 | https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/6308887/cowra-prisoner-of-war-breakout-remembered/
• FEATURES: The night the sky was glowing red | The Canberra Times | 9 Jul 1994 | Page 42 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118189979
• Japanese prisoner of war's ashes recovered in historic, emotional repatriation | Hannah Sinclair | SBS | 12 Sep 2015 | https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/japanese-prisoner-of-wars-ashes-recovered-in-historic-emotional-repatriation/jqswk5qck
• Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45 Prisoners of War | W. Wynne Mason 1954 | Victoria University of Wellington | https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Pris-_N95664.html
• Prisoners Of War Break From Camp At Cowra | The Sun | 5 Aug 1944 | Page 3 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231692065
• Prisoners of war break from camp at cowra | The Sun | 5 Aug 1944 | Page 3 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231692065
• The Bugle and the Breakout | Claire Hunter | Australian War Memorial | 30 Jul 2019 | https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/the-bugle-and-the-breakout
• The Cowra Breakout (2002), Mat McLachlan, Hachette Australia, ISBN: 9780733647628
• War prisoners escape from camp | The Daily Telegraph | 6 Aug 1944 | Page 1 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/247871178

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The Big Pineapple in Queensland, Australia, isn't just a landmark—it's a hub for agri-tourism. Standing tall at sixteen meters, it represents the region's pineapple industry, offering educational tours and entertainment. Through farmer's markets and festivals, it promotes agrarian experiences, enriching visitors' understanding of rural life. Seamlessly blending entertainment with education, the Big Pineapple sustains cultural significance while boosting the local economy.

Join Holly & Matthew as they travel back in time to when this spikey hell-plant was considered a treat, and when people would literally travel for days to see a 16ft tall one.

Sources used: 

• Australian Pineapples: History | Hort Innovation | 2017 | https://web.archive.org/web/20220625011401/https://australianpineapples.com.au/about-2/history-2/
• Big Pineapple owners plan revamp of Queensland's iconic tourist attraction | ABC Sunshine Coast | Bruce Atkinson, Annie Gaffney | 27 Jan 2017 | https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-27/big-pineapple-owners-plan-revamp-of-tourist-attraction/8218384
• Midnight Oil rock through the rain at Big Pineapple| Scronin | Courier Mail | 15 Oct 2017 | https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/mackay/midnight-oil-rock-through-the-rain-at-big-pineapple/news-story/ee1505ef9489f2a39321b64ad5daab09#/0
• Queensland heritage register, Queensland government “The Big Pineapple (former Sunshine Plantation” |2009 | https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/heritage-register/detail/?id=602694
• Queensland's First Pineapples Were Grown As Curiosities | The Courier-Mail | Wed 29 Mar 1950 | Page 2 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/49719326
• The Big Pineapple | Noosa News | 19 Aug 1971 | Page 10 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/260496486
• Tourist Promotion Plan | Noosa News | 1 Apr 1971 | Page 4 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/260495709

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The "Dumb Ways to Die" campaign launched in November 2012 by Metro Trains in Melbourne, and by the end of next year, it cemented itself as a legendary advertising campaign. Its viral success not only promoted railway safety, but also earned international acclaim for its creative approach, becoming an iconic example of effective public service announcements and a billion parodies.

Join Holly & Matthew as they delve into its viral success and profound impact on public awareness, illuminating the intersection of creativity and public safety advocacy in contemporary advertising discourse.

Sources Used: 

• “The dumbest way to die is without life insurance”; Empire Life launches new advertising campaign | Empire Life | 29 May 2014 | https://web.archive.org/web/20160805152152/http://www.empire.ca/consumer/about-us/news/news-archive-2014/2014-05-29/en/
• Campaign of the Week: Dumb Ways To Die | Robert Allen | 28 Sep 2018 | https://www.smartinsights.com/digital-marketing-strategy/campaign-of-the-week-dumb-ways-to-die/
• CASE STUDY: Dumb Ways To Die | Michael Cray |24 Jan 2022 | https://smithbrothersmedia.com.au/get-smarter/case-study-dumb-ways-to-die/
• Culture, Learning and Risk | Human Dymensions Quarterly Newsletter | Jun 2017 | https://spor.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/June-2017-compressed.pdf
• Dumb Ways To Die and A Strange Sense of Success | Dr Rob Long | 30 Nov 2016 | Safety Risk | https://web.archive.org/web/20170708111545/https://www.safetyrisk.com.au/dumb-ways-to-die-and-a-strange-sense-of-success/
• Dumb Ways to Die viral ‘leads to 20% drop in dumb behaviour at Melbourne train stations’ | 8 Feb 2013| Robin Hicks | https://mumbrella.com.au/dumb-ways-to-die-viral-leads-to-20-drop-in-dumb-behaviour-at-melbourne-train-stations-138464
• Jewish voice goes viral | Australian Jewish News | 30 Nov 2012 | Tamna Jacks | Page 9 | https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2945979029/view
• Lebedev's blog post was blocked for a clip about stupid methods of suicide | 5 Feb 2013 | Lenta.ru | http://lenta.ru/news/2013/02/05/dumbwaystoblacklist/
• Quirky 'Dumb Ways to Die' campaign sweeps advertising awards | Reuters | 24 Jun 2013 | https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-advertising-die-idUSBRE95N03L20130624/

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The sinking of HMAS Voyager in 1964, following a collision with HMAS Melbourne during a night-time exercise off New South Wales, resulted in 82 fatalities. Miscommunication and poor visibility were identified as primary causes, highlighting deficiencies in naval procedures and equipment. Subsequent reforms were implemented within the Royal Australian Navy to enhance ship-to-ship communication, radar systems, and operational practices, emphasizing the crucial importance of effective communication and safety protocols in maritime operations and the inherent risks involved.


Join Holly & Matthew as they delve into the aftermath, where reforms sparked by a Royal Commission reshaped naval protocols.

Sources used:

• ‘The lucky ones died that night’: lies, survivor guilt and the Voyager disaster | Amanda Gearing | 7 Apr 2018 | https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/apr/07/the-lucky-ones-died-that-night-lies-survivor-guilt-and-the-voyager-disaster
• 3 Victims Of H.M.A.S. Voyager Sinking Buried | The Canberra Times | 15 Feb 1964 | Page 10 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131744045
• Australia’s Worst Disasters, Malcolm Brown HMAS Voyager (II) | Royal Australian Navy | https://seapower.navy.gov.au/hmas-voyager-ii
• Question: Voyager | Edward St John | House of Reps | 16 Jun 1967 | https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/genpdf/hansard80/hansardr80/1967-05-16/0057/hansard_frag.pdf
• Royal Commission Continues | Navy News | 15 May 1964 | Page 9 | https://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Navy_News-May-15-1964_0.pdf
• Spicer Inquiry, Report of Royal Commissioner on loss of H.M.A.S. "Voyager" : Melbourne | 13 Aug 1964 | Page 38 | https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-492969559/
• Survivors Tell Grim Stories | The Canberra Times | Wed 12 Feb 1964 | Page 6 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131743406
• Voyager disaster: 'The coxswain said "Sorry lads, we're done for" and sang Abide With Me' | Amanda Gearing | The Guardian | 9 Feb 2018 | https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/feb/09/i-was-last-out-seaman-relives-dramatic-escape-from-australias-naval-disaster
• Voyager Royal Commission —43rd. Day 14 Possible Causes of Collision Listed | The Canberra Times | 12 Jun 1964 | Page 8 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/105765709

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The sinking of HMAS Voyager in 1964, following a collision with HMAS Melbourne during a night-time exercise off New South Wales, resulted in 82 fatalities. Miscommunication and poor visibility were identified as primary causes, highlighting deficiencies in naval procedures and equipment. Subsequent reforms were implemented within the Royal Australian Navy to enhance ship-to-ship communication, radar systems, and operational practices, emphasizing the crucial importance of effective communication and safety protocols in maritime operations and the inherent risks involved.


Join Holly & Matthew as they delve into the aftermath, where reforms sparked by a Royal Commission reshaped naval protocols.

Sources used:

• ‘The lucky ones died that night’: lies, survivor guilt and the Voyager disaster | Amanda Gearing | 7 Apr 2018 | https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/apr/07/the-lucky-ones-died-that-night-lies-survivor-guilt-and-the-voyager-disaster
• 3 Victims Of H.M.A.S. Voyager Sinking Buried | The Canberra Times | 15 Feb 1964 | Page 10 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131744045
• Australia’s Worst Disasters, Malcolm Brown HMAS Voyager (II) | Royal Australian Navy | https://seapower.navy.gov.au/hmas-voyager-ii
• Question: Voyager | Edward St John | House of Reps | 16 Jun 1967 | https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/genpdf/hansard80/hansardr80/1967-05-16/0057/hansard_frag.pdf
• Royal Commission Continues | Navy News | 15 May 1964 | Page 9 | https://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Navy_News-May-15-1964_0.pdf
• Spicer Inquiry, Report of Royal Commissioner on loss of H.M.A.S. "Voyager" : Melbourne | 13 Aug 1964 | Page 38 | https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-492969559/
• Survivors Tell Grim Stories | The Canberra Times | Wed 12 Feb 1964 | Page 6 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131743406
• Voyager disaster: 'The coxswain said "Sorry lads, we're done for" and sang Abide With Me' | Amanda Gearing | The Guardian | 9 Feb 2018 | https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/feb/09/i-was-last-out-seaman-relives-dramatic-escape-from-australias-naval-disaster
• Voyager Royal Commission —43rd. Day 14 Possible Causes of Collision Listed | The Canberra Times | 12 Jun 1964 | Page 8 | https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/105765709

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Join Holly & Matthew for our traditional 100-episode celebration! This round, we're publishing an interview previously only seen on Patreon, and answering fan questions!

Thanks for all your support, guys, we love you all!

Head over to this episode of the Dingo Ate My Movie podcast to hear Matthew reminisce about the Australian cult classic, Stone.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Discover the tale of Bunyip Bluegum, Bill Barnacle, and Sam Sawnoff as they guard their magical dessert against the devious schemes of Possum and Wombat. Explore the themes of friendship and greed in this beloved Australian classic. Get ready for a delightful journey filled with laughter, adventure, and a pudding that's more than meets the eye!


In this episode, join Holly & Matthew as they delve into the whimsical world of "The Magic Pudding" by Norman Lindsay, his lurid past, and the book's legacy.

***

For the uncut version with an extra 5 minutes of episode, subscribe to our Patreon feed.

Sources used: 

• 100 Years Ago: The Magic Pudding | State Library of NSW Magazine | Spring 2018 | Page 16-17 | https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/5197_slmag_spring_web-screen.pdf
• Magic Pudding a Wicked shame | Pierpont | Australian Financial Review | 18 Oct 2002
  https://www.afr.com/politics/magic-pudding-a-wicked-shame-20021018-j79a0
• Motion of Censure: Communist Activities | 7 Apr 1948 | Australian Parliament House, House of Reps | https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/hansard80/hansardr80/1948-04-07/toc_pdf/19480407_reps_18_196.pdf
• The linguistic origins of ‘magic pudding’ economics | Crikey | 15 May 2013| https://www.crikey.com.au/2013/05/15/more-you-eats-the-more-you-gets-linguistic-origins-of-magic-pudding-economics/
• The Magic Pudding | National Trust | 2018 | https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/the-magic-pudding/
• The Magic Pudding: A Mirror of Our Fondest Wishes | Christopher Kelen | University of Macau | http://www.nla.gov.au/openpublish/index.php/jasal/article/view/315/747

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In 1996, a crime rocked Australia when a mother, brother, and sister were brutally murdered in their New South Wales home.

As investigators delved into the case, suspicions mounted, but the perpetrator remained elusive. Despite attempts to mask the crime as a robbery gone wrong, clues began to unravel the mystery. Strained family dynamics and a cheating husband emerged as potential motives, casting shadows of doubt over the true culprit. So when 17 year-old Matthew de Gruchy was arrested for the murder, the country gasped.

But questions remained as to whether he committed these murders, or whether they were the work of a third party. Was Matthew framed, or was he the unlucky victim of circumstantial evidence?

Join Holly & Matthew as they look through the case, and attempt to figure out why this young man would snap so badly as to kill his mother, brother and sister in their own home.

Sources used: 

• Albion Park Rail teen killer Matthew De Gruchy could snap again, says ex-cop | Cydonee Mardon | 16 Jun 2021 | https://www.bluemountainsgazette.com.au/story/6094631/id-be-worried-ex-cop-says-killer-could-snap-again/
• Before the High Court | Jeremy Gans | 2002 | Sydney Law Review | Vol 24:123 p123-134 | http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/SydLawRw/2002/4.pdf
• De Gruchy jury is deadlocked | Louise Turk | 14 Oct 1998 | Illawarra Mercury | https://cdn.newsnow.io/35ns5Wme2fedmBqQ6qZE6iD/De%20Gruchy%20IM14Oct1998%20p3.pdf
• De Gruchy v The Queen [2002] HCA 33 | 8 Aug 2002 | NSW Supreme Court | https://staging.hcourt.gov.au/assets/publications/judgments/2002/De%20Gruchy%20v%20The%20Queen%20(S252-2001)%20[2002]%20HCA%2033.pdf
• Killers 'bashed gang rapist brothers'  | Kara Lawrence | The Daily Telegraph | 18 Mar 2009 | https://web.archive.org/web/20090321095455/http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,25205600-2,00.html
• The New Tasmanian Devil — Matthew De Gruchy Massacred His Family | A.W. Naves | 13 Sep 2021 | https://awnaves.com/the-new-tasmanian-devil-matthew-de-gruchy-massacred-his-family-811e79587433
• Triple murderer Matthew De Gruchy working at NSW abattoir | Angela Thompson| Sydney Morning Herald | 22 Apr 2017 | https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/triple-murderer-matthew-de-gruchy-working-at-nsw-abattoir-20170422-gvq5st.html

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Throughout his criminal career, Donahue and his gang targeted stagecoaches and travelers, using the rugged terrain of the Australian outback to their advantage. Unlike other bushrangers, however, Donahue's group stole more than just valuables - they weren't called the Strippers for nothing.


As his exploits grew in infamy, Donahue became a folk hero to some and a menace to others. His ability to outwit law enforcement and continue his criminal activities captivated the public imagination.


In this episode, we chronicle Donahue's life as a bushranger, highlighting the impact of his actions on Australian society and his enduring legacy as one of the most infamous outlaws in Australian history.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

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**Child friendly listening!**

First, there was Dora the Explorer. Then there was Pepper Pig.

Now, there is Bluey.

Join Holly & Matthew as they dive into world of the Blue Heeler, celebrating the pup's universal appeal and Australian attitude. Explore the show's unique storytelling, blending humor, emotion, and valuable life lessons with their distinct Brisbane-ness.

Join Holly & Matthew as they discover how Bluey transcends generations with relatable family dynamics, from imaginative games to heartfelt conversations, the series captures the essence of family bonding.

Sounds in this episode:
Chip Chilla clip - The Daily Wire
Bluey Theme - Ludo Studios

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

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James Hardie Industries' involvement in the asbestos industry significantly shaped its trajectory from the mid-20th century. By the 1930s, the company had begun producing asbestos-containing products, capitalizing on the material's fire-resistant and insulating properties. This move propelled James Hardie into a dominant position within the asbestos industry, with its products widely used in construction throughout Australia and globally. However, by the 1970s, concerns about asbestos-related health risks began to emerge, leading to a shift in public perception and regulatory scrutiny.

Join Matthew and Holly as they work their way through the history of the company who has become synonymous with asbestos exposure, their deeds and misste

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

James Hardie Industries' involvement in the asbestos industry significantly shaped its trajectory from the mid-20th century. By the 1930s, the company had begun producing asbestos-containing products, capitalizing on the material's fire-resistant and insulating properties. This move propelled James Hardie into a dominant position within the asbestos industry, with its products widely used in construction throughout Australia and globally. However, by the 1970s, concerns about asbestos-related health risks began to emerge, leading to a shift in public perception and regulatory scrutiny.

Join Matthew and Holly as they work their way through the history of the company who has become synonymous with asbestos exposure, their deeds and missteps, court cases and extradition treaties.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

James Hardie Industries' involvement in the asbestos industry significantly shaped its trajectory from the mid-20th century. By the 1930s, the company had begun producing asbestos-containing products, capitalizing on the material's fire-resistant and insulating properties. This move propelled James Hardie into a dominant position within the asbestos industry, with its products widely used in construction throughout Australia and globally. However, by the 1970s, concerns about asbestos-related health risks began to emerge, leading to a shift in public perception and regulatory scrutiny.

Join Matthew and Holly as they work their way through the history of the company who has become synonymous with asbestos exposure, their deeds and missteps, court cases and extradition treaties.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Wittenoom emerged as a bustling mining hub in the 1930s, extracting lucrative blue asbestos from the surrounding rock. By 1947, it dominated global supply.


By the 1960s, alarming health concerns linked to asbestos emerged. Despite mounting evidence, mining persisted until 1966.


Today, Wittenoom stands as a haunting testament to unchecked industrial ambition, its once-thriving streets now ghostly remnants. Join Matthew and Holly as they delve deeper, and uncover a town erased from maps but not from memory, where prosperity met an unsettling legacy.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Baryulgil mine, situated in north-east NSW, gained prominence for asbestos extraction during the mid-20th century. While it initially provided economic opportunities for the Baryulgil Indigenous community through employment, the mine's asbestos production later caused severe injury to said workers. Those workers faced asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis, diseases that destroy the lung tissue and leave sufferers gasping for air.


Over time, heightened awareness of asbestos dangers led to the mine's scrutiny and eventual closure. Join Holly & Matthew as they go through the worker safety debates and the environmental challenges offered by such an event, journeying into the complexities of a community caught between progress and peril.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

n Christmas Eve 1975, there were 74 guests at the Savoy Hotel, and at 5:30am Christmas morning, most of the occupants were sleeping, as one would expect.


The Savoy was located on Darlinghurst Road, in the middle of Kings Cross. The building was small, totalling only 5 storeys tall, with a concrete or washed brick exterior and windows that swung out towards the street. There were no balconies, and tragically no fire exits. The building was packed into the surrounding area, sharing external walls with its neighbours, and housing a ‘dollar bargain’ store facing the street.


The Savoy was known for not only short-term stays, but also played host to a select core of ‘guests’ who basically rented a room from the landlord for long term stays.


One of those guests was Reginald Lyttle, a man who would not take his dry Christmas with the grace it deserved.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the fire, the cause, and the case.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In the 1954 Australian spy defection, high-stakes espionage unfolded when top-ranking Soviet diplomat Vladimir Petrov sought asylum. Unveiling a web of Cold War intrigue, Petrov exposed a Soviet spy ring infiltrating Australian government circles.

As the defection sent shockwaves through international relations, it strained Australia's ties with the Soviet Union. The defection, orchestrated by Western intelligence agencies, shed light on the extent of Soviet espionage in the region. Petrov's revelations reverberated globally, influencing diplomatic strategies and emphasizing the Cold War's covert dimensions.

Join Holly & Matthew as they look into the circumstances and public opinion of the defection, and the local consequences of one man's choice.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the Church of Scientology faced legal prohibitions in several Australian states, notably Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia. These states instituted inquiries and restrictions on Scientology's activities, at the request of the medical field and in response to its outlaying 'medical' practices.


The Victorian government initiated a Board of Inquiry in 1963, resulting in the banning of Scientology in the state. Similar legal actions occurred in other regions, leading to varying degrees of restrictions. Over time, some of these restrictions were lifted, reflecting a complex and evolving legal history between the Australian government and the Church of Scientology.


Join Holly & Matthew as they dig through the mud for what happened to get the church banned - and how they made their comeback.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In 1988, educational programming aimed towards the preschool demographic on the ABC was handled by a mere two shows – Sesame Street, which was produced in America, and Play School, our homegrown production. These were staples on the Australian children’s entertainment landscape and had remained beloved by Australian children for more than twenty years.


There were some who were not content with one single Australian offering for our youth and with the help of a little puppet (which some would later describe as nightmare fuel), they would present a new offering for Aussie kids.


Join Holly and Matthew as they examine the world of EC and the memories his horrible, blank face stirs up.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

The koala, Australia's beloved marsupial. Master of Camouflage, Marsupial of a Hundred Names, Disqualified Entrant of the "World's Cutest Animal" contest.


Known for its fluffy, gray fur and round face, the koala is an emblem of cuteness. Everyone knows what a Koala is.


But what if we told you that we've been saying its name wrong for decades?



Join us as we examine the Cullawine, Native Bear, Coolah, Koala and Ash-Coloured-Pouch-Bear, and its unique path to an evolutionary dead end.

**

Jingle: Caramello Koala (1997)
Song: Don Spencer - Don't Call Me a Koala Bear

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In the early 19th century, Musquito, a First Nations bushranger, defied British colonial rule in Australia. Born around 1780, he was transported to Tasmania as a convict in 1824. Escaping captivity, he joined forces with Black Jack, another warrior, and led a group of dispossessed First Nations people in guerrilla warfare against settlers.

Their audacious raids terrorized colonists, thanks to Musquito's unrivaled knowledge of the terrain, but he couldn't live forever. His execution in January 1825 marked the end of his unique chapter in Australian bushranging history.

Join Holly & Matthew as they look into the exciting life of this bushranger and ask: "Bushranger, or Freedom Fighter?"

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In 1942 amidst the rugged terrain of Papua New Guinea, the battle to save the Australian mainland unfolded in treacherous conditions, dense jungles, and steep mountain ranges, shadowed by the constant threat of tropical diseases.


The Kokoda Track, a narrow and challenging pathway, became the epicenter of a battle where outnumbered Australian forces, primarily composed of reservists, aided by local Papuan allies, valiantly defended the strategically crucial Port Moresby. Enduring severe hardships, shortages of supplies, and fierce battles, they succeeded in compelling the Japanese to retreat.


Join us as we explore their unwavering determination and sacrifice, which defined this critical victory for the Allies in the Pacific while facing incredible difficulties, and helped to solidify just what it means to be an ANZAC.

Clips used from Slim Dusty, "Kokoda Track" and Stan Bissett - https://australiansatwarfilmarchive.unsw.edu.au/archive/1223

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

b22NZJqZpC4fPS8dojNa

In 1942 amidst the rugged terrain of Papua New Guinea, the battle to save the Australian mainland unfolded in treacherous conditions, dense jungles, and steep mountain ranges, shadowed by the constant threat of tropical diseases.


The Kokoda Track, a narrow and challenging pathway, became the epicenter of a battle where outnumbered Australian forces, primarily composed of reservists, aided by local Papuan allies, valiantly defended the strategically crucial Port Moresby. Enduring severe hardships, shortages of supplies, and fierce battles, they succeeded in compelling the Japanese to retreat.


Join us as we explore their unwavering determination and sacrifice, which defined this critical victory for the Allies in the Pacific while facing incredible difficulties, and helped to solidify just what it means to be an ANZAC.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

On the Easter long weekend in 2003, everything seemed cool and normal. The Singh parents were overseas in Fiji, and their children remained at home in Brisbane, enjoying the school holidays together.


On Easter Monday, the calm of the Singh family's neighbourhood was broken by a discovery that would break their family: someone had taken the lives of Neelma Singh, her brother Kunal Singh, and her sister Sidhi Singh in their family home.


Join us as we explore the enigmatic motives behind this chilling crime, driven by complex personal conflicts and tensions within the family.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

On the Easter long weekend in 2003, everything seemed cool and normal. The singh parents were overseas in Fiji, and their children remained at home in Brisbane, enjoying the school holidays together.

On Easter Monday, the calm of the Singh family's neighbourhood was broken by a discovery that would break their family: someone had taken the lives of Neelma Singh, her brother Kunal Singh, and her sister Sidhi Singh in their family home.

Join us as we explore the enigmatic motives behind this chilling crime, driven by complex personal conflicts and tensions within the family.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

When the 42-Up train landed at Mt Isa in 1938, there was something strange about the mail cart. One of the locks was different, not regulation, and when they opened the door, they found two bags missing.


Join Holly & Matthew as they look into Australia's DB Cooper and the legacy he left behind.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In the Murray-Darling river system lives a creature to large as to drag ships down into the depths and so powerful it can curse a man to death. But the Muldjewangk hasn't been seen for more than 30 years - and the river system is suffering because of it.


Join Holly and Matthew as they look into Australia's own deadly curse-caster, and the stories that gave it its origins...

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

After drinking away the redeployed US soldiers at the North West Cape naval base, Annie hitched a ride home with two members of the AFP.


On the way home, they encountered something that stuck in her mind forever. But not as much as the US-MP visit 2 days later.


Join Holly & Matthew as they look into this encounter in WA, and the cheek the Aussies gave the authorities trying to silence her.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

While Kylie is primarily known for her chart-topping music and acting career, there's a peculiar twist to her story, which could have seen her sister Dannii take her crown. We explore her early years growing up in Melbourne, her unexpected transition from a soap opera star to a global music sensation, and a career in film, tv and music that has now spanned 5 decades.


Join Holly and Matthew as we unravel the strange and captivating aspects of Kylie Minogue's life and career, making her a unique addition to the weird and wonderful tapestry of Australian musical and pop culture history.


***


All song clips property of their owners, not us.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

While Kylie is primarily known for her chart-topping music and acting career, there's a peculiar twist to her story, which could have seen her sister Dannii take her crown. We explore her early years growing up in Melbourne, her unexpected transition from a soap opera star to a global music sensation, and a career in film, tv and music that has now spanned 5 decades.

Join Holly and Matthew as we unravel the strange and captivating aspects of Kylie Minogue's life and career, making her a unique addition to the weird and wonderful tapestry of Australian musical and pop culture history.

***

All song clips property of their owners, not us.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Against the backdrop of World War II's brownout conditions, Melbourne became a breeding ground for rapists, robbers and murderers. One of them, The Brownout Strangler, became the most notorious serial killer in Australia at the time, because he left no trace.

Until the day he did.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the murders, the perpetrator, and the trial.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Against the backdrop of World War II's brownout conditions, Melbourne became a breeding ground for rapists, robbers and murderers. One of them, The Brownout Strangler, became the most notorious serial killer in Australia at the time, because he left no trace.


Until the day he did.


join Holly and Matthew as they look into the murders, the perpetrator, and the trial. Get ready for 1940s anti-American sentiments and the historical justifications!

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Against the backdrop of World War II's brownout conditions, Melbourne became a breeding ground for rapists, robbers and murderers. One of them, The Brownout Strangler, became the most notorious serial killer in Australia at the time, because he left no trace.


Until the day he did.


join Holly and Matthew as they look into the murders, the perpetrator, and the trial. Get ready for 1940s anti-American sentiments and the historical justifications!

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

To say that the Australian film landscape was limited in the early 2000s would be a gross understatement. Much of the 90s Australian film industry was populated seminal drama films dripping with awards prestige. Occasionally Baz Luhrmann got one out the door or an American film production would come knocking, but long gone were the days of the rebels and exploitation directors of the 70s and 80s.

That was until cinema goers worldwide came face-to-face with one of cinema's most ruthless killers: Mick Taylor in his debut film Wolf Creek.

Join Holly and Matthew as they take a deep dive in to the creation of this modern Australian exploitation classic, and rant a lot about the state of the modern Australian film industry.


Clip credits:

Mick Taylor from Wolf Creek 2 (2014) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myF5As9AfM0

Bells of Notre Dame from Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dBwv5_59T8

Talimnavi from the Wolf Creek Original Soundtrack (2005)

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

There's a part of modern warfare that is often overlooked by the people on the ground, and that's the communications systems feeding them information. A war can't be fought without orders, and where there's a messenger, there's an enemy looking to find out what he's up to.

When Australia joined the WWII efforts on Sept 1, 1939, we didn't have a cryptanalyst team, or anything remotely resembling a Bond/Borne/Reacher team of sleuths and codebreakers. But within 3 years, we were out there teaching the rest of the world how it was done.

It was thanks to a group of people stationed across Australia - in Melbourne, Brisbane, Townsville, Darwin and other places - that helped the Americans seek vengeance for Pearl Harbor, strike back against the intended invasions, and start intercepting the Japanese fleets closer and closer to home.


But for 30 years, these people were hidden from society, their achievements unrecognised and shredded like 1970s paperwork; some would argue they still are.


Join Holly and Matthew as they look into Australia's own version of Bletchley Park and Alan Turing, or the Manhattan Project and Oppenheimer, complete with geniuses ahead of their time, abandoned and treated like crap after the War by governments desperate to bury their history.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

There's a part of modern warfare that is often overlooked by the people on the ground, and that's the communications systems feeding them information. A war can't be fought without orders, and where there's a messenger, there's an enemy looking to find out what he's up to.


When Australia joined the WWII efforts on Sept 1, 1939, we didn't have a cryptanalyst team, or anything remotely resembling a Bond/Borne/Reacher team of sleuths and codebreakers. But within 3 years, we were out there teaching the rest of the world how it was done.


It was thanks to a group of people stationed across Australia - in Melbourne, Brisbane, Townsville, Darwin and other places - that helped the Americans seek vengeance for Pearl Harbor, strike back against the intended invasions, and start intercepting the Japanese fleets closer and closer to home.


But for 30 years, these people were hidden from society, their achievements unrecognised and shredded like 1970s paperwork; some would argue they still are.


Join Holly and Matthew as they look into Australia's own version of Bletchley Park and Alan Turing, or the Manhattan Project and Oppenheimer, complete with geniuses ahead of their time, abandoned and treated like crap after the War by governments desperate to bury their history.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Yahoo Serious, an Australian actor, director, and producer, gained fame in the late 1980s with "Young Einstein," a comedic take on Albert Einstein. With red hair and slapstick humor, he carved a niche for himself. Though later films fell short, he remains an intriguing figure in Australian cinema's history.



But that's not all he's known for. Join Holly and Matthew as they look at the films, the charities and the appearance that made Serious's 9 years of fame an amazing time in Australian cinema.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

This mythical creature, said to prowl the untamed wilderness of northern Queensland, has captured Cryptologists imaginations for decades - They say if any cryptid of Australia exists, it's the Yarri.


Join Holly and Matthew as they examine this cryptid, known elsewhere as the Queensland Tiger, and the scientific evidence of its existance.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Perth went from a community able to sleep with a cool breeze flowing through their homes, to locking the doors and windows in the height of summer. Fear was everywhere as a gunman, a strangler and a stabber swept through the community, setting fires and stealing cars as they went. It was gangland pandemonium in 1960s Perth, and everyone was afraid. What they didn't understand was that this was not the work of a gang; it was all the work of one man.

Join Holly and Matthew as they uncover the bone-chilling case of the Night Caller, his victims, and the lasting impact he had on the world of one particular true-crime author...

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Perth went from a community able to sleep with a cool breeze flowing through their homes, to locking the doors and windows in the height of summer. Fear was everywhere as a gunman, a strangler and a stabber swept through the community, setting fires and stealing cars as they went. It was gangland pandemonium in 1960s Perth, and everyone was afraid.

What they didn't understand was that this was not the work of a gang; it was all the work of one man.

Join Holly and Matthew as they uncover the bone-chilling case of the Night Caller, his victims, and the lasting impact he had on the world of one particular true-crime author...

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In this episode, we explore the enchanting world of quokkas, the adorable marsupials from Western Australia. Discover the unique features that make quokkas so special, from their contagious smiles to their friendly nature. We discuss the quokkas' habitat on Rottnest Island, their herbivorous diet, and the social dynamics within their communities. We'll also highlight conservation efforts and debunk common misconceptions, as well as rant for a solid 5 mins about the stupidity of tourists when it comes to wild animals.

Join Matthew and Holly as they bring the joy and wonder of quokkas to life, leaving you with a deep appreciation for these nature's happiest little wonders.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Eight-year-old Graeme Thorne, a young boy from Sydney, was targeted by a ruthless criminal seeking a hefty ransom. As the Thorne family endured unimaginable anguish, the nation held its breath, waiting for a resolution.


Join Holly and Matthew as they recount the events leading up to this infamous case and explore the devastating impact it had on the nation, as well as the good it eventually spawned.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Eight-year-old Graeme Thorne, a young boy from Sydney, was targeted by a ruthless criminal seeking a hefty ransom. As the Thorne family endured unimaginable anguish, the nation held its breath, waiting for a resolution.


Join Holly and Matthew as they recount the events leading up to this infamous case and explore the devastating impact it had on the nation, as well as the good it eventually spawned.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Eight-year-old Graeme Thorne, a young boy from Sydney, was targeted by a ruthless criminal seeking a hefty ransom. As the Thorne family endured unimaginable anguish, the nation held its breath, waiting for a resolution.


Join Holly and Matthew as they recount the events leading up to this infamous case and explore the devastating impact it had on the nation, as well as the good it eventually spawned.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Delve into the chilling history of Fremantle Gaol, a notorious prison in Western Australia. Explore the tragic stories of infamous criminals, daring escape attempts, and the dark practices of floggings and executions. Investigate the paranormal experiences reported by visitors and staff, from unexplained sounds to eerie encounters.

Join Holly and Matthew as they uncover the secrets and spirits that continue to haunt this iconic Australian landmark.

FremantleGaol WesternAustralia Darkhistory Prison Truecrime Ghoststories Paranormalactivity
Hauntedlocations Australianlandmarks Historicalsites Infamouscriminals Escapeattempts Floggings
Executions Supernaturalphenomena Ghosthunting Spinetingling Eerieencounters Secretsandspirits Australianhistory



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In this episode, we explore the complex and controversial legacy of Truganini, a prominent Tasmanian First Nations figure. We delve into her life as a survivor of European colonization, her involvement in efforts to protect First Nations culture and heritage, and her role in the Tasmanian First Nations community.

Join Holly and Matthew as they examine her life and seek a deeper understanding of Truganini and her impact on the history and culture of Australia.

Fanny Cochrane Smith: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjX-Id4LaL0

***
Episodes mentioned within:
- 26-28 (Ned Kelly)
- 61-62 (Old Melbourne Gaol)
- 186-187 (Matthew Brady)
- 21 (Cannibal Bushrangers)
- 35 (Port Arthur Penal Colony)
- 67 (The Frederick)
- 146-147 (The McMillan Cairns)
- 231-233 (Midnight Oil)
- 54-55 (Stolen Generations)
- 40 (Bass Strait Triangle)
- 132 (Friendly Australian Serpents)



Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In this episode, we explore the complex and controversial legacy of Truganini, a prominent Tasmanian First Nations figure. We delve into her life as a survivor of European colonization, her involvement in efforts to protect First Nations culture and heritage, and her role in the Tasmanian First Nations community.

Join Holly and Matthew as they examine her life and seek a deeper understanding of Truganini and her impact on the history and culture of Australia.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In this episode, we explore the complex and controversial legacy of Truganini, a prominent Tasmanian First Nations figure. We delve into her life as a survivor of European colonization, her involvement in efforts to protect First Nations culture and heritage, and her role in the Tasmanian First Nations community.

Join Holly and Matthew as they examine her life and seek a deeper understanding of Truganini and her impact on the history and culture of Australia.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In this episode, we explore the complex and controversial legacy of Truganini, a prominent Tasmanian First Nations figure. We delve into her life as a survivor of European colonization, her involvement in efforts to protect First Nations culture and heritage, and her role in the Tasmanian First Nations community.

Join Holly and Matthew as they examine her life and seek a deeper understanding of Truganini and her impact on the history and culture of Australia.



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

During World War I, the German Army used the Mephisto tank in the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux. However, the tank became stuck in a shell hole and was abandoned by its crew. The Australian Army later found the tank and attempted to tow it back to their lines but had to abandon it due to heavy fire.


After several attempts, the Australians successfully retrieved the Mephisto tank, and it became a source of controversy between Australia and Germany. The Germans demanded the return of the tank, but the Australians refused.


Join Holly and Matthew as they recount the tale of recovery and adventure of the tank, and go on a mini-rant about British Army commanders.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In this episode, we delve into the case of Kathleen Folbigg, an Australian woman convicted of killing her four infant children over the course of a decade. We explore the evidence presented at trial, including Folbigg's own diaries, which contain disturbing and incriminating entries. We also examine the controversial science of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and the role it played in the case.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look at the ongoing debate over Folbigg's guilt or innocence, with some experts questioning the validity of the evidence against her.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In this episode, we delve into the case of Kathleen Folbigg, an Australian woman convicted of killing her four infant children over the course of a decade. We explore the evidence presented at trial, including Folbigg's own diaries, which contain disturbing and incriminating entries. We also examine the controversial science of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and the role it played in the case.



Join Holly and Matthew as they look at the ongoing debate over Folbigg's guilt or innocence, with some experts questioning the validity of the evidence against her.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

While holidaying with his family in Port Moresby in 1953, Tom Drury, the Deputy Director of the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) managed to catch footage of a UFO/UAP racing across the sky. What happened next was a race by several different agencies to see who could identify the object first.

**

To back Performance Review, click here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bigtimstiles/performance-review

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In this episode, we delve into the little-known story of the Australian victims of the Waco Siege, a 51-day standoff between the US government and a religious group known as the Branch Davidians that culminated in a tragic fire that claimed the lives of 76 people. We examine the lives and stories of the Australian victims, including their motivations for joining the group and their experiences during the siege. We also explore the impact that the tragedy had on their families and loved ones back in Australia.

Join Holly and Matthew as they examine this often-overlooked aspect of the Waco Siege and the Australian victims who lost their lives in the tragic event.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In this episode, we delve into the little-known story of the Australian victims of the Waco Siege, a 51-day standoff between the US government and a religious group known as the Branch Davidians that culminated in a tragic fire that claimed the lives of 76 people. We examine the lives and stories of the Australian victims, including their motivations for joining the group and their experiences during the siege. We also explore the impact that the tragedy had on their families and loved ones back in Australia.

Join Holly and Matthew as they examine this often-overlooked aspect of the Waco Siege and the Australian victims who lost their lives in the tragic event.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Matthew sat down with three of the lovely team members responsible for the Starship Q Star podcast - Megan May, Lena Moon, and Lauren Anderson - to discuss what it's like to create Australian podcasts, their sense of humour, and their dayjobs - sprinkled with a lot of jokes, puns and laughs!

Like what you hear? Head to weirdcrapinaustralia.com and subscribe for $5/month or more to get the full interview, ad-free episodes, plus lots of other audio perks!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In this episode, we delve into the little-known story of the Australian victims of the Waco Siege, a 51-day standoff between the US government and a religious group known as the Branch Davidians that culminated in a tragic fire that claimed the lives of 76 people. We examine the lives and stories of the Australian victims, including their motivations for joining the group and their experiences during the siege. We also explore the impact that the tragedy had on their families and loved ones back in Australia.

Join Holly and Matthew as they examine this often-overlooked aspect of the Waco Siege and the Australian victims who lost their lives in the tragic event.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Do we have a treat for all of you! Our first international crossover with famed cyrptid podcast hosts Justin and Jay from the Cryptids of the Corn podcast. The dynamic duo bring us their brand of North American monster with the infamous Mothman - who may not be as fearsome as we have been led to believe. Then once you’ve finished, head over to the Cryptids of the Corn podcast as the cultural exchange continues, with Holly and Matt sharing one of our infamous UFO encounters and plenty of banter!

Looking for the extended, uncut edition of the show? Head on over to weirdcrapinaustralia.com (our patreon page), sign up for $5/month and receive both this and all out ad-free back catalogue as a thank you for being a Patreon subscriber!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In this episode, we explore the harrowing story of the Beaconsfield Mine disaster, a mining accident that occurred in Tasmania, Australia, in 2006. We delve into the events leading up to the collapse of the mine and the subsequent rescue efforts to save the trapped miners, including the heroic efforts of rescuers and the use of cutting-edge technology. We also examine the impact that the disaster had on the local community and the mining industry as a whole, including the subsequent changes in safety regulations.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into this gripping story of survival and resilience in the face of tragedy.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.



Sources Cited:

Fears for miners caught in rockfall https://web.archive.org/web/20070814123629/http://www.news.com.au/story/0%2C10117%2C18932778-1702%2C00.html


Grave concerns held for trapped miners https://web.archive.org/web/20060427214056/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200604/s1623633.htm


Miners trapped underground for two weeks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXC-LYD-4LU


Larry Knight’s autopsy https://web.archive.org/web/20110422110334/http://www.supremecourt.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/120889/alx.016.002.0003_043.pdf


Beaconsfield rescuer relives drama https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/gympie/beaconsfield-rescuer-relives-drama/news-story/1b3c0631c130f6c29e492569d93fec2f


New bid to reach missing miners https://www.smh.com.au/national/new-bid-to-reach-missing-miners-20060428-gdnfrw.html


Miners face more delays https://web.archive.org/web/20071117101019/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19063946-1702,00.html


Foo Fighters make good on word to miners https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/foo-fighters-tribute-to-miners/news-story/2c8f6a5f84bedf8aa6fa4a0f7541e9c3


Enough Rope with Andrew Denton https://web.archive.org/web/20070104013731/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1638565.htm


Trapped Australian miners aid their escape https://web.archive.org/web/20060513024304/http://news.monstersandcritics.com/asiapacific/article_1160369.php/Trapped_Australian_miners_aid_their_escape


Journalist Richard Carleton dies http://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-05-07/journalist-richard-carleton-dies/1747538


A disaster waiting to happen https://www.smh.com.au/national/a-disaster-waiting-to-happen-20060516-gdnjvk.html

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In this episode, we explore the harrowing story of the Beaconsfield Mine disaster, a mining accident that occurred in Tasmania, Australia, in 2006. We delve into the events leading up to the collapse of the mine and the subsequent rescue efforts to save the trapped miners, including the heroic efforts of rescuers and the use of cutting-edge technology. We also examine the impact that the disaster had on the local community and the mining industry as a whole, including the subsequent changes in safety regulations.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into this gripping story of survival and resilience in the face of tragedy.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.


Sources Cited:

Fears for miners caught in rockfall https://web.archive.org/web/20070814123629/http://www.news.com.au/story/0%2C10117%2C18932778-1702%2C00.html


Grave concerns held for trapped miners https://web.archive.org/web/20060427214056/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200604/s1623633.htm


Miners trapped underground for two weeks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXC-LYD-4LU

Larry Knight’s autopsy https://web.archive.org/web/20110422110334/http://www.supremecourt.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/120889/alx.016.002.0003_043.pdf


Beaconsfield rescuer relives drama https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/gympie/beaconsfield-rescuer-relives-drama/news-story/1b3c0631c130f6c29e492569d93fec2f


New bid to reach missing miners https://www.smh.com.au/national/new-bid-to-reach-missing-miners-20060428-gdnfrw.html


Miners face more delays https://web.archive.org/web/20071117101019/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19063946-1702,00.html


Foo Fighters make good on word to miners https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/foo-fighters-tribute-to-miners/news-story/2c8f6a5f84bedf8aa6fa4a0f7541e9c3


Enough Rope with Andrew Denton https://web.archive.org/web/20070104013731/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1638565.htm


Trapped Australian miners aid their escape https://web.archive.org/web/20060513024304/http://news.monstersandcritics.com/asiapacific/article_1160369.php/Trapped_Australian_miners_aid_their_escape


Journalist Richard Carleton dies http://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-05-07/journalist-richard-carleton-dies/1747538


A disaster waiting to happen https://www.smh.com.au/national/a-disaster-waiting-to-happen-20060516-gdnjvk.html

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In this episode, we explore the little-known story of the Ideal Human Environment cult, also known as the Ringers Western Cult. Founded in Australia in the 1960s, the cult espoused a philosophy of self-sufficiency and isolation from mainstream society, attracting a group of devoted followers. We delve into the beliefs and practices of the cult, including their reliance on communal living and strict adherence to a code of conduct. We also examine the controversies and scandals that plagued the group, including the conviction of their leader James Salerno in 2019.

Join Holly and Matthew as they examine the world of the Ideal Human Environment/Project 2000, and the brand that made them famous.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In this episode, we explore the little-known story of the Ideal Human Environment cult, also known as the Ringers Western Cult. Founded in Australia in the 1960s, the cult espoused a philosophy of self-sufficiency and isolation from mainstream society, attracting a group of devoted followers. We delve into the beliefs and practices of the cult, including their reliance on communal living and strict adherence to a code of conduct. We also examine the controversies and scandals that plagued the group, including the conviction of their leader James Salerno in 2019.

Join Holly and Matthew as they examine the world of the Ideal Human Environment/Project 2000, and the brand that made them famous.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In this episode, we delve into the events surrounding the 1996 Parliament House riot in Australia. Sparked by protests against proposed changes to workplace laws, the demonstration turned violent as a group of angry protesters stormed the Parliament House building in Canberra. We explore the factors that led to the riot and the response of the authorities in the aftermath, including the arrests and prosecutions of those involved. We also examine the broader context of labor relations in Australia and the lasting impact that the events of that day had on the country's political landscape.

What followed was an event so infamous that it's not talked about in civilised company, but its ripples continue to be felt today.

(As of posting, we're up to 954,000 listens! Listen the whole way through for why that's important!)

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In this episode, we delve into the events surrounding the 1996 Parliament House riot in Australia. Sparked by protests against proposed changes to workplace laws, the demonstration turned violent as a group of angry protesters stormed the Parliament House building in Canberra. We explore the factors that led to the riot and the response of the authorities in the aftermath, including the arrests and prosecutions of those involved. We also examine the broader context of labor relations in Australia and the lasting impact that the events of that day had on the country's political landscape.

What followed was an event so infamous that it's not talked about in civilised company, but its ripples continue to be felt today.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In this episode, we take a closer look at the Clarke Brothers, a notorious gang of bushrangers who wreaked havoc in colonial New South Wales during the mid-1800s. We explore the brothers' origins, including their childhoods and early criminal activities, as well as their eventual transformation into some of Australia's most infamous outlaws. We also examine the daring robberies and violent confrontations with law enforcement that defined their careers as bushrangers, and the factors that ultimately led to their capture and execution.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into some local (for them) history and dive back into the world of the bushrangers.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

On an evening in August 1950, the small town of Toukley was awoken late at night to search for a pair of missing girls. Grace and Kathleen Holmes went for a walk that afternoon, and still had not returned.


What happened to the girls, and is the man charged actually responsible? Join Matthew and Holly as they look into this small Central Coast history, and the ghost story connected to it...

Sources Cited:
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/134390304
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/143806163
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/157875985
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/18181676
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/201435115
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/212066857
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244256184
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/248542739
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/248542739/27466819

A pleading woman and a phantom hitchhiker: The Central Coast's most haunted stretch of road
https://www.mamamia.com.au/jenny-dixon-beach-ghost/

Graves of murdered sisters Kathleen and Grace Holmes to get headstone after 64 years
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-coast/graves-of-murdered-sisters-kathleen-and-grace-holmes-to-get-headstone-after-64-years/news-story/33d812c2455dc805f8d7b9910cd17c54

The Jenny Dixon Beach Ghost
http://www.unexplainedaustralia.com/homepage/21-ghosts-hauntings/45-the-jenny-dixon-beach-ghost


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

The world of the Wasteland is the longest-running Australian film franchise we can think of, and for good reason. Though some of the films have waited literally decades for the right circumstances for them to be made, the original film and its sequel have had a marked and well-studied effect on Hollywood and the Australian cinema experience since its initial release.

What kind of effects could Mad Max have had? Aside from releasing Mel Gibson into the world, that is? Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the film, its production, and the reasons behind it conception - and subsequent durability.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Sources cited:
-- (1985) Tina Turner to Establish Self as Major Actress. 29 July. Jet Magazine. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://books.google.com.au/books?id=mLQDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

-- James McCausland biography, IMDB. Quotes. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0565537/bio?ref_=nm_dyk_qt_sm#quotes

--Mad Max, IMDB. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079501/

-- Mad Max 2 Trivia, IMDB. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082694/trivia?item=tr0761718

Barra, A. (1999) Film - A Road Warrior is Still on a Roll. 15 August. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20141206003256/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/15/movies/film-a-road-warrior-is-still-on-a-roll.html

Beale, L. (2015) Director George Miller talks 'Mad Max: Fury Road'. 8 May. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/movies/mad-max-fury-road-director-george-miller-talks-c35571

Billington, A. (2009) Rumor: Mad Max 4 is Live Action, Scouting Locations Now? 18 May. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.firstshowing.net/2009/rumor-mad-max-4-is-live-action-scouting-locations-now/

Blankenship, M. (2020) The Maximum Force of The Future: Celebrating the Legacy of George Miller’s Mad Max. 15 February. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://nofspodcast.com/the-maximum-force-of-the-future-celebrating-40-years-of-george-millers-mad-max

Byrnes, P. (2022) George Miller. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://aso.gov.au/people/George_Miller_1/interview/

Conterio, M. (2019) Mad Max: Constellations. 15 December. ISBN 9781911325864

Conterio, M. (2021) Throwback: Mad Max. 1 July. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.scifinow.co.uk/interviews/throwback-mad-max/

Eakin, M. (2022) George Miller Knows the Power of a Great Story. August 26. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.wired.com/story/george-miller-three-thousand-years-of-longing-q-a/

Ebert, R. (1985). Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. 10 July. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20060110130621/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19850710/REVIEWS/507100301/1023

Goudry, N. (2013) Namibia Film Commission disputes Mad Max 4 location filming damage claim. 7 March. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20150518065733/http://www.thelocationguide.com/blog/2013/03/ng-film-namibia-film-commission-disputes-mad-max-4-location-filming-damage-claim/

Hartley, M. (2008) Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation!

Maher, D. (1979) We Need George Miller. 1 June. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/213732807

Massoto, E. (2022) ‘Furiosa’: George Miller Casts Bullied Child Who Went Viral In ‘Mad Max’ Prequel. 22 August. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://collider.com/furiosa-cast-quaden-bayles-viral-george-miller-mad-max/

Miller, G. (1971) Violence in Cinema Part 1. Accessed 23 December, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45Drn7HQmT8

Miller, G. (1979) Mad Max Trailer (Australian release). Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Odsribz_gQ0

Miller, J. (2015) Tom Hardy Publicly Apologizes to Mad Max Director George Miller. 14 May. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/05/tom-hardy-mad-max-apology

Morris, C. (2006) Mad Max is dead, says Gibson. 31 October. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20070326054758/http://www.moviehole.net/news/20061031_mad_max_is_dead_says_gibson.html

Ratcliffe, J. (2012). A Step Back in Time with Mad Max 2. 27 July. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20150518184922/http://www.abc.net.au/local/videos/2012/07/27/3555167.htm

Robinson, J. (2015). 8 Reasons Why Mad Max Is the Most Improbable Franchise of All Time. 15 May. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/05/mad-max-history

Roach, V. (2019). Mad Max stands the test of time on the 40th anniversary of its cinematic release. 6 April. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/mad-max-stands-the-test-of-time-after-40-years/news-story/e40952264728758001776a8d189b6857

Rothkopf. J. (2015) Mad Max: Fury Road's George Miller on his post-apocalyptic classics and Mel Gibson. 11 May. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.timeout.com/film/max-max-fury-roads-george-miller-on-his-post-apocalyptic-classics-and-mel-gibson

Soall, M. (2015) Mark Sexton Interview - OzComicCon 2015. 3 October. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECKsiuF53PY

Specter, M. (1982) Myths Shape a Movie from Australia. 15 August. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20150525072629/http://www.nytimes.com/1982/08/15/movies/myths-shape-a-movie-from-australia.html?pagewanted=2

Starburst (2015) George Miller at the MAD MAX FURY ROAD DVD Launch. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.starburstmagazine.com/features/george-miller-mad-max-dvd

UPI (1983) Byron Kennedy, 33, Producer of Film, 'The Road Warrior'. 20 July. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/20/obituaries/byron-kennedy-33-producer-of-film-the-road-warrior.html



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

The world of the Wasteland is the longest-running Australian film franchise we can think of, and for good reason. Though some of the films have waited literally decades for the right circumstances for them to be made, the original film and its sequel have had a marked and well-studied effect on Hollywood and the Australian cinema experience since its initial release.

What kind of effects could Mad Max have had? Aside from releasing Mel Gibson into the world, that is? Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the film, its production, and the reasons behind it conception - and subsequent durability.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Sources cited:
-- (1985) Tina Turner to Establish Self as Major Actress. 29 July. Jet Magazine. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://books.google.com.au/books?id=mLQDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

-- James McCausland biography, IMDB. Quotes. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0565537/bio?ref_=nm_dyk_qt_sm#quotes

--Mad Max, IMDB. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079501/

-- Mad Max 2 Trivia, IMDB. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082694/trivia?item=tr0761718

Barra, A. (1999) Film - A Road Warrior is Still on a Roll. 15 August. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20141206003256/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/15/movies/film-a-road-warrior-is-still-on-a-roll.html

Beale, L. (2015) Director George Miller talks 'Mad Max: Fury Road'. 8 May. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/movies/mad-max-fury-road-director-george-miller-talks-c35571

Billington, A. (2009) Rumor: Mad Max 4 is Live Action, Scouting Locations Now? 18 May. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.firstshowing.net/2009/rumor-mad-max-4-is-live-action-scouting-locations-now/

Blankenship, M. (2020) The Maximum Force of The Future: Celebrating the Legacy of George Miller’s Mad Max. 15 February. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://nofspodcast.com/the-maximum-force-of-the-future-celebrating-40-years-of-george-millers-mad-max

Byrnes, P. (2022) George Miller. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://aso.gov.au/people/George_Miller_1/interview/

Conterio, M. (2019) Mad Max: Constellations. 15 December. ISBN 9781911325864

Conterio, M. (2021) Throwback: Mad Max. 1 July. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.scifinow.co.uk/interviews/throwback-mad-max/

Eakin, M. (2022) George Miller Knows the Power of a Great Story. August 26. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.wired.com/story/george-miller-three-thousand-years-of-longing-q-a/

Ebert, R. (1985). Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. 10 July. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20060110130621/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19850710/REVIEWS/507100301/1023

Goudry, N. (2013) Namibia Film Commission disputes Mad Max 4 location filming damage claim. 7 March. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20150518065733/http://www.thelocationguide.com/blog/2013/03/ng-film-namibia-film-commission-disputes-mad-max-4-location-filming-damage-claim/

Hartley, M. (2008) Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation!

Maher, D. (1979) We Need George Miller. 1 June. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/213732807

Massoto, E. (2022) ‘Furiosa’: George Miller Casts Bullied Child Who Went Viral In ‘Mad Max’ Prequel. 22 August. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://collider.com/furiosa-cast-quaden-bayles-viral-george-miller-mad-max/

Miller, G. (1971) Violence in Cinema Part 1. Accessed 23 December, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45Drn7HQmT8

Miller, G. (1979) Mad Max Trailer (Australian release). Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Odsribz_gQ0

Miller, J. (2015) Tom Hardy Publicly Apologizes to Mad Max Director George Miller. 14 May. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/05/tom-hardy-mad-max-apology

Morris, C. (2006) Mad Max is dead, says Gibson. 31 October. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20070326054758/http://www.moviehole.net/news/20061031_mad_max_is_dead_says_gibson.html

Ratcliffe, J. (2012). A Step Back in Time with Mad Max 2. 27 July. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20150518184922/http://www.abc.net.au/local/videos/2012/07/27/3555167.htm

Robinson, J. (2015). 8 Reasons Why Mad Max Is the Most Improbable Franchise of All Time. 15 May. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/05/mad-max-history

Roach, V. (2019). Mad Max stands the test of time on the 40th anniversary of its cinematic release. 6 April. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/mad-max-stands-the-test-of-time-after-40-years/news-story/e40952264728758001776a8d189b6857

Rothkopf. J. (2015) Mad Max: Fury Road's George Miller on his post-apocalyptic classics and Mel Gibson. 11 May. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.timeout.com/film/max-max-fury-roads-george-miller-on-his-post-apocalyptic-classics-and-mel-gibson

Soall, M. (2015) Mark Sexton Interview - OzComicCon 2015. 3 October. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECKsiuF53PY

Specter, M. (1982) Myths Shape a Movie from Australia. 15 August. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20150525072629/http://www.nytimes.com/1982/08/15/movies/myths-shape-a-movie-from-australia.html?pagewanted=2

Starburst (2015) George Miller at the MAD MAX FURY ROAD DVD Launch. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.starburstmagazine.com/features/george-miller-mad-max-dvd

UPI (1983) Byron Kennedy, 33, Producer of Film, 'The Road Warrior'. 20 July. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/20/obituaries/byron-kennedy-33-producer-of-film-the-road-warrior.html




Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

The world of the Wasteland is the longest-running Australian film franchise we can think of, and for good reason. Though some of the films have waited literally decades for the right circumstances for them to be made, the original film and its sequel have had a marked and well-studied effect on Hollywood and the Australian cinema experience since its initial release.

What kind of effects could Mad Max have had? Aside from releasing Mel Gibson into the world, that is? Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the film, its production, and the reasons behind it conception - and subsequent durability.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Sources cited:
-- (1985) Tina Turner to Establish Self as Major Actress. 29 July. Jet Magazine. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://books.google.com.au/books?id=mLQDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

-- James McCausland biography, IMDB. Quotes. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0565537/bio?ref_=nm_dyk_qt_sm#quotes

--Mad Max, IMDB. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079501/

-- Mad Max 2 Trivia, IMDB. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082694/trivia?item=tr0761718

Barra, A. (1999) Film - A Road Warrior is Still on a Roll. 15 August. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20141206003256/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/15/movies/film-a-road-warrior-is-still-on-a-roll.html

Beale, L. (2015) Director George Miller talks 'Mad Max: Fury Road'. 8 May. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/movies/mad-max-fury-road-director-george-miller-talks-c35571

Billington, A. (2009) Rumor: Mad Max 4 is Live Action, Scouting Locations Now? 18 May. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.firstshowing.net/2009/rumor-mad-max-4-is-live-action-scouting-locations-now/

Blankenship, M. (2020) The Maximum Force of The Future: Celebrating the Legacy of George Miller’s Mad Max. 15 February. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://nofspodcast.com/the-maximum-force-of-the-future-celebrating-40-years-of-george-millers-mad-max

Byrnes, P. (2022) George Miller. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://aso.gov.au/people/George_Miller_1/interview/

Conterio, M. (2019) Mad Max: Constellations. 15 December. ISBN 9781911325864

Conterio, M. (2021) Throwback: Mad Max. 1 July. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.scifinow.co.uk/interviews/throwback-mad-max/

Eakin, M. (2022) George Miller Knows the Power of a Great Story. August 26. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.wired.com/story/george-miller-three-thousand-years-of-longing-q-a/

Ebert, R. (1985). Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. 10 July. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20060110130621/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19850710/REVIEWS/507100301/1023

Goudry, N. (2013) Namibia Film Commission disputes Mad Max 4 location filming damage claim. 7 March. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20150518065733/http://www.thelocationguide.com/blog/2013/03/ng-film-namibia-film-commission-disputes-mad-max-4-location-filming-damage-claim/

Hartley, M. (2008) Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation!

Maher, D. (1979) We Need George Miller. 1 June. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/213732807

Massoto, E. (2022) ‘Furiosa’: George Miller Casts Bullied Child Who Went Viral In ‘Mad Max’ Prequel. 22 August. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://collider.com/furiosa-cast-quaden-bayles-viral-george-miller-mad-max/

Miller, G. (1971) Violence in Cinema Part 1. Accessed 23 December, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45Drn7HQmT8

Miller, G. (1979) Mad Max Trailer (Australian release). Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Odsribz_gQ0

Miller, J. (2015) Tom Hardy Publicly Apologizes to Mad Max Director George Miller. 14 May. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/05/tom-hardy-mad-max-apology

Morris, C. (2006) Mad Max is dead, says Gibson. 31 October. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20070326054758/http://www.moviehole.net/news/20061031_mad_max_is_dead_says_gibson.html

Ratcliffe, J. (2012). A Step Back in Time with Mad Max 2. 27 July. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20150518184922/http://www.abc.net.au/local/videos/2012/07/27/3555167.htm

Robinson, J. (2015). 8 Reasons Why Mad Max Is the Most Improbable Franchise of All Time. 15 May. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/05/mad-max-history

Roach, V. (2019). Mad Max stands the test of time on the 40th anniversary of its cinematic release. 6 April. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/mad-max-stands-the-test-of-time-after-40-years/news-story/e40952264728758001776a8d189b6857

Rothkopf. J. (2015) Mad Max: Fury Road's George Miller on his post-apocalyptic classics and Mel Gibson. 11 May. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.timeout.com/film/max-max-fury-roads-george-miller-on-his-post-apocalyptic-classics-and-mel-gibson

Soall, M. (2015) Mark Sexton Interview - OzComicCon 2015. 3 October. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECKsiuF53PY

Specter, M. (1982) Myths Shape a Movie from Australia. 15 August. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20150525072629/http://www.nytimes.com/1982/08/15/movies/myths-shape-a-movie-from-australia.html?pagewanted=2

Starburst (2015) George Miller at the MAD MAX FURY ROAD DVD Launch. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.starburstmagazine.com/features/george-miller-mad-max-dvd

UPI (1983) Byron Kennedy, 33, Producer of Film, 'The Road Warrior'. 20 July. Accessed 23 December 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/20/obituaries/byron-kennedy-33-producer-of-film-the-road-warrior.html



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On December 25, 1933, two young men were out for a morning of fishing. The pair were treating themselves to a little peace and quiet before the inevitable insanity that often accompanies Christmas, an often-hectic day filled with family, friends and foods as many go about their merriment. The men bunted along the Murrumbidgee River, near Wagga Wagga, and found a spot they could use to pass the time. The pair set up their rods, tilted their hats and laid back to bask in the serenity of the morning on the river.

Join Holly and Matthew as they celebrate Christmas the only way we know how - with a gruesome murder!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

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When many people think of Australia in the 1960s, they picture an era of protests, sexual exploration and counter-revolutions staged namely by what we now call "The Baby Boomer Generation", who began Australia's first timid steps towards cultural maturity. These Australians began exercising their influence against restrictive legislation, outdated morality and social issues within Australian society, which is exactly the opposite of what their generation stands for now.

Cinema around the world was transitioning from big studio led productions to an "Auteur director"-led model. Young experimental film makers with a little cash and a lot of spirit began to make the movie industry their own. Their creativity was influenced by anti-government sentiment after the disastrous results of the Vietnam War, the second wave feminist movement, and the push for the acceptance of the homosexual community. Young Australian film makers were watching, taking notes and preparing for their first steps into the industry.

Join Holly and Matthew as they talk Australian New Wave Cinema/Ozploitation, the genre, the heavy hitters, and where the industry would go from here...

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When many people think of Australia in the 1960s, they picture an era of protests, sexual exploration and counter-revolutions staged namely by what we now call "The Baby Boomer Generation", who began Australia's first timid steps towards cultural maturity. These Australians began exercising their influence against restrictive legislation, outdated morality and social issues within Australian society, which is exactly the opposite of what their generation stands for now.

Cinema around the world was transitioning from big studio led productions to an "Auteur director"-led model. Young experimental film makers with a little cash and a lot of spirit began to make the movie industry their own. Their creativity was influenced by anti-government sentiment after the disastrous results of the Vietnam War, the second wave feminist movement, and the push for the acceptance of the homosexual community. Young Australian film makers were watching, taking notes and preparing for their first steps into the industry.

Join Holly and Matthew as they talk Australian New Wave Cinema/Ozploitation, the genre, the heavy hitters, and where the industry would go from here...

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

As the world exited the Swinging 60s, Australia was looking to their own people for inspiration in the world of the cinema landscape. There were lots of American films to go see, European films were all the rage, but there was something missing from the world of Australian cinemas - the Australian.

The Naked Bunyip was the first truly Australian film released to this country, as recent as 1970. It wasn't an easy ride for the director and his team, however, and to celebrate their achievement, we're going to have a long look into what made The Naked Bunyip so popular, so controversial, and so morally grey.

Warning: This program contains Nude Sex Scenes; Lewd Humour; and a naked dancing bunyip. Viewer discretion is advised.

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In this episode, we delve into the fascinating and grisly case of the Shark Arm Murders, a series of bizarre events that took place in Sydney, New South Wales in 1935. The story centers around a tiger shark caught by fishermen that had a human arm in its stomach. This led to a shocking investigation that uncovered a web of murder, deceit, and organized crime involving illegal animal smuggling and blackmail. We explore the details of the crime scene, the investigation that followed, and the eventual arrest and conviction of the killer.

Think you know the story? Guess again. Join Holly and Matthew as they look into one of Australia's most famous depression-era cases, and the twists that kept it in the public eye for decades.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

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In this episode, we explore the captivating story of Midnight Oil, one of Australia's most iconic and politically charged bands. From their early beginnings in Sydney in the late 1970s, we follow the band's rise to international fame with hits like "Beds are Burning" and "Blue Sky Mine". We delve into their unique sound, their strong environmental and social activism, and their impact on Australian culture and music. Through interviews with band members and music experts, we uncover the triumphs and challenges of their career, and the legacy they have left on the music industry and beyond.


"As we sing the songs night after night, there are lines that pop out which were written 35, 40, maybe even longer, which have more relevance now than when they were written. Even though we don't have any new material that we're playing at the moment, it's interesting how applicable a lot of the old songs are to what's happening in 2017." ~ Rob Hirst


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.


All clips within are copyright of their respective owners, not us. Just in case :)

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In this episode, we explore the captivating story of Midnight Oil, one of Australia's most iconic and politically charged bands. From their early beginnings in Sydney in the late 1970s, we follow the band's rise to international fame with hits like "Beds are Burning" and "Blue Sky Mine". We delve into their unique sound, their strong environmental and social activism, and their impact on Australian culture and music. Through interviews with band members and music experts, we uncover the triumphs and challenges of their career, and the legacy they have left on the music industry and beyond.


"As we sing the songs night after night, there are lines that pop out which were written 35, 40, maybe even longer, which have more relevance now than when they were written. Even though we don't have any new material that we're playing at the moment, it's interesting how applicable a lot of the old songs are to what's happening in 2017." ~ Rob Hirst


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

All clips within are copyright of their respective owners, not us. Just in case :)

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In this episode, we explore the captivating story of Midnight Oil, one of Australia's most iconic and politically charged bands. From their early beginnings in Sydney in the late 1970s, we follow the band's rise to international fame with hits like "Beds are Burning" and "Blue Sky Mine". We delve into their unique sound, their strong environmental and social activism, and their impact on Australian culture and music. Through interviews with band members and music experts, we uncover the triumphs and challenges of their career, and the legacy they have left on the music industry and beyond.


"As we sing the songs night after night, there are lines that pop out which were written 35, 40, maybe even longer, which have more relevance now than when they were written. Even though we don't have any new material that we're playing at the moment, it's interesting how applicable a lot of the old songs are to what's happening in 2017." ~ Rob Hirst


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In the depths of February 1893, the banks of the Brisbane River, as it’s wont to do, broke and flooded the town – three times within two weeks. These three major floods in one month led to February 1893 being labelled Black February. Another flood also broke banks in June, but by then the city was recovered from the initial floods, making it a little easier to bear.

In the floodwaters, which have been known to host such creatures as bull sharks, crocodiles and other dangerous beasts in Australia, something began preying on the animals that remained in the fields and paddocks around the riverbanks of Lowood. At first, it was supposed that some of the released crocodiles or sharks could be responsible, but the creatures seemed to only vanish at night, and were taken from the riverbank – not while swimming.

Final episode of Spooktober 2022. Matthew is sad.

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There's always been something weird going on out there on the horizon. Long before nuclear bombs showed up in South Australia, there was a rocket range designed to test rockets.

But what else was out there? If you trust the reports, at least a couple of alien visitors...

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In this episode, we take a deep dive into the brutal murder of Anita Cobby, a young Australian nurse who was abducted and killed in 1986, and explore the impact of the case on Australian society, including changes in law enforcement and community attitudes towards violence against women.

Join Holly and Matthew as they examine not only the murder, but the trial, the media interference, and the consequences of the entire thing - not just on young women everywhere, but on the media landscape as well.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

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We delve into the rich history of The Rocks, one of Sydney's oldest and most iconic neighborhoods, exploring the area's fascinating past, from its origins as a First Nations fishing village to its development as a hub of colonial industry and commerce. Learn about the social and cultural landscape of The Rocks throughout history, and how it has changed over time. And, while on the hunt, follow us through some lovely ghost stories, and look into the preservation efforts that have helped to maintain the unique character of the neighborhood.

The Rocks has a long history with Australia, with convicts, with shipping, and with many other industries besides. Join Holly and Matthew as they look through the area's history, its stories, and the ghosts that continue to haunt this little 2km stretch of Sydney Harbour.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

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In 1920, a young woman ran away from a Catholic convent and into the arms of the Protestant church across town. When she was discovered missing, the Catholic church reported her missing to police, and they went looking for her.

What would come is a series of events that seem outlandish and stupid in the 21st Century. Declared insane for rebuffing a return to the Catholic convent, police chased her to Sydney from Wagga Wagga, and had her put on trial.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the story of Brigid Partridge/Sister Mary Liguori, and her brush with fame, kidnapping and insanity.

*

To watch Dr. Jeff Kildea's lecture on Sister Liguori and the Irish Australian experience, head to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbiE6K1TZDE

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

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As the world was beginning to shut down in 2020, two campers in their 70s headed up into the Alpine National Park for a weekend away. This was the last weekend before Covid restrictions came into effect in Victoria, and a lot of people were taking advantage of the March weather.

This would be the last weekend away for our older campers. This would also be the story that spread a new legend in the Australian bush to the mainstream: The Button Man.

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As the world was beginning to shut down in 2020, two campers in their 70s headed up into the Alpine National Park for a weekend away. This was the last weekend before Covid restrictions came into effect in Victoria, and a lot of people were taking advantage of the March weather.

This would be the last weekend away for our older campers. This would also be the story that spread a new legend in the Australian bush to the mainstream: The Button Man.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In 1804, the only place you'd find someone prouder to be Irish than those in Ireland was in Australia. When the Irish motherland rebelled against their English overseers (for neither the first nor last time), a section of the burgeoning Australian Irish convict community stood up in solidarity.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look at the Rebellion that never was, the only one that had the potential to bring the British occupation of Port Jackson to its knees.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

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King Charles III succeeds Queen Elizabeth II to the throne. Will this cause anarchy in the streets, or will life continue on as before? The sharks are already circling, so let's put some information down for posterity.

Bonus tip: Queen Elizabeth was alive 1926-2022 - which means she's seen almost 80% of Australia's life as "Australia". Her reign lasted just over 57% of the time we've been a nation! She's been alive almost 33% of the time the USA has been a country! Talk about the world's Grandma!

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

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In 1804, the only place you'd find someone prouder to be Irish than those in Ireland was in Australia. When the Irish motherland rebelled against their English overseers (for neither the first nor last time), a section of the burgeoning Australian Irish convict community stood up in solidarity.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look at the Rebellion that never was, the only one that had the potential to bring the British occupation of Port Jackson to its knees.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

There is one common held truth amongst Aussies and that is that Australia is deceptively large. With a menagerie of various ecosystems and habitats, from deserts to rainforests and snowfields, the land reveals new secrets about herself all the time. In fact, the discovery of new animal species is quite frequent (though mostly of the ‘fossil’ or ‘insect’ varieties).

What we don’t see in this country anymore are the wandering beasts of the larger persuasion. Gone are the Diprotodons and Megalania that called this continent home, buried and missing in action for 40,000 years.

Or are they just playing the longest game of hide and seek the world has ever seen?

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

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In this episode, we explore the shocking case of the Pyjama Girl Murder, a brutal killing that occurred in Victoria, Australia in 1934. The unidentified body of a woman wearing distinctive pyjamas was found in a culvert outside Wagga Wagga, NSW, sparking a massive investigation that became one of Australia's most infamous and enduring mysteries. We delve into the details of the crime scene, the investigation that followed, and the controversial identification of the victim.

Join Holly and Matthew as they pick apart the case and the problems that come from detective work in the 1930s.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In this episode, we explore the shocking case of the Pyjama Girl Murder, a brutal killing that occurred in Victoria, Australia in 1934. The unidentified body of a woman wearing distinctive pyjamas was found in a culvert outside Wagga Wagga, NSW, sparking a massive investigation that became one of Australia's most infamous and enduring mysteries. We delve into the details of the crime scene, the investigation that followed, and the controversial identification of the victim.

Join Holly and Matthew as they pick apart the case and the problems that come from detective work in the 1930s.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In this episode, we explore the fascinating story of the 1956 Olympic Torch Hoax. With the Melbourne Olympics set to begin, a group of university students plotted to carry out a daring prank - stealing the Olympic Torch and replacing it with a homemade replica. The group's plan was meticulously executed and resulted in the international media reporting on the hoax as if it was real. The story captivated the nation and became a defining moment in Australian culture, showcasing the country's love for a good prank and irreverence towards authority.

Using contemporary sources and archival footage, we examine the events leading up to the hoax and its aftermath, exploring the broader cultural context in which it occurred. With a mix of humor, historical insight, and engaging storytelling, this episode offers a unique perspective on one of Australia's most enduring and beloved sporting events.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

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Australia has some of the most varied fauna in the world. In the early part of the 20th century, it was all about the dinosaurs. We still discover new Australian fossils today - sometimes even at Harvard.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look at the dinosaur America took, and its place in history.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

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On July 26, 2022, the possible identity of the Somerton Man was put forth by Prof. Abbott. Holly and Matthew discuss.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

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In 1899, a murder went down in the heart of Melbourne, the repercussions of which were felt 120 years later in the Australian gaming industry.

What could possibly have happened, and how did phrenology, palmistry and a bunch of radishes play into the story? Join Holly and Matthew as they examine the murder that was, and the games that could be...

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

There is a tiny creature dwelling in the south-west or this nation, which strikes fear into the hearts of the hard-working communities it preys on. The South Australian Tiger is known to consume 20,000 members of society a day, causing mayhem, devastation and destruction in its hunting grounds.

Lucky it's so dang cute! Join Holly and Matthew as they examine the South Australian Tiger, its history, and its future...

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

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Bushrangers can be many things: pious priests (Captain Moonlight), womanisers (Captain Thunderbolt and Matthew Brady), scoundrels (The Kelly Gang and the Ben Hall Gang), or even slippery (Moondyne Joe and the Tasmanian Cannibals).

Generally speaking, they tend not to be as mad as a stuck pig. But there was one bushranger out there who seemed to have no code, other than to cause chaos wherever he trod.

Ladies and gentlemen, we present: Mad Dan Morgan, also known as 'Mad Dog'.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Bushrangers can be many things: pious priests (Captain Moonlight), womanisers (Captain Thunderbolt and Matthew Brady), scoundrels (The Kelly Gang and the Ben Hall Gang), or even slippery (Moondyne Joe and the Tasmanian Cannibals).

Generally speaking, they tend not to be as mad as a stuck pig. But there was one bushranger out there who seemed to have no code, other than to cause chaos wherever he trod.

Ladies and gentlemen, we present: Mad Dan Morgan, also known as 'Mad Dog'.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Along the Parramatta River, extending out from the area now known as Petersham, was a large area of land that was part of the lands under the management of the Wangal people. Between 1789 and 1821, 15 land grands were made by the European settlers regarding the area, but with them being so far away from the then-town centre, they were slower to develop. Garry Owen House was built in 1839 for the estate’s owner, Ryan Brenan. He went bust during the 1844 depression, and in 1845 he gave up the rights to the Garry Owen estate. He sold it to Sydney Businessman John Gordon, who renamed the property Callan Park.

In the ensuing ~180 years, Callan Park Mental Hospital has had guests of all manner of persuasion, from famous newspaper editors to suffragettes, and surprisingly, was never once considered as an Old Folks Home or Young Girls' School (That's weird for Australia!)

Join Holly and Matthew as they revisit the history of the area, the inmates, and the "breakthrough" medical practices that took place on the Parramatta River.

(Recommended by fan Vanessa P.)

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

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The 1950s were a glorious time! UFO sightings, post-War trauma and nuclear sunsets for everyone!

At the end of WWII, Britain found itself locked out of the nuclear race it had directly contributed to not a few months before. Feeling the pinch, they searched the world for somewhere to test their armaments - and like their ancestors before them, found the Great Southern Land to their liking.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

The 1950s were a glorious time! UFO sightings, post-War trauma and nuclear sunsets for everyone!

At the end of WWII, Britain found itself locked out of the nuclear race it had directly contributed to not a few months before. Feeling the pinch, they searched the world for somewhere to test their armaments - and like their ancestors before them, found the Great Southern Land to their liking.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

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The 1950s were a glorious time! UFO sightings, post-War trauma and nuclear sunsets for everyone!

At the end of WWII, Britain found itself locked out of the nuclear race it had directly contributed to not a few months before. Feeling the pinch, they searched the world for somewhere to test their armaments - and like their ancestors before them, found the Great Southern Land to their liking.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

On a Saturday afternoon in 1991, a man sat alone in a cafe in inner Sydney, drinking coffee after coffee as he watched the people around him. Beside him sat a bag that contained only a few items, each perfectly designed for their purpose.

Suddenly, without warning, he struck. The attack lasted 10 minutes, influenced so many governmental policies. Regardless, it is all but forgotten by the majority of the Sydney population. Until now.

**This was recorded in late April, and has no reflection on the current situation in America**

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

A beloved children's poem was turned into a freaky-looking animation short for Play School. A soft toy was created out of that animation, and proved popular on the show. The popularity of that toy then spawned a new show for children, featuring three teddies, two bananas and a rat.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look through another nostalgic TV show from their childhood - and possibly yours.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

On April 21, 1964, a program aired on television with themes that would be very recognisable to about 80% of Australian adults today. This breakout children's edutainment hit was aimed at pre-school children, and included a cast of characters, mostly stuffed toys, including Jemima, Humpty, Big Ted and Little Ted.

This is not an episode about that show.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

On the night of August 20, 1860, an expedition left Melbourne that would go down in history as a success in spite of the hardships the Australian outback threw at the brave explorers.

The reality is a little more nuanced - and ridiculous - than the story we've been told.

Join Holly and Matthew as they follow Bob Burke and Will Wills -and their forgotten companions John King and Charles Gray - as they travel from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria, and their attempts to return home.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

On the night of August 20, 1860, an expedition left Melbourne that would go down in history as a success in spite of the hardships the Australian outback threw at the brave explorers.

The reality is a little more nuanced - and ridiculous - than the story we've been told.

Join Holly and Matthew as they follow Bob Burke and Will Wills -and their forgotten companions John King and Charles Gray - as they travel from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria, and their attempts to return home.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In early March, 1973, a collection if people from all walks of life - farmers, military police, police officers, criminals and laypeople - gathered at the Whiskey Au-Go-Go Brisbane for a night of fun, passion and music.

Around 2 a.m., their lives changed forever. Within 20 minutes, 15 people were dead, the club was destroyed, and the Whskey itself became a magnet for sonsoiracy though - most of it mental, but some of it true.

Join Holly and Matthew as they walk through the fire, the lives of the perpetrators, and the legacy of that night - a legacy that's still being written.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In early March, 1973, a collection if people from all walks of life - farmers, military police, police officers, criminals and laypeople - gathered at the Whiskey Au-Go-Go Brisbane for a night of fun, passion and music.

Around 2 a.m., their lives changed forever. Within 20 minutes, 15 people were dead, the club was destroyed, and the Whskey itself became a magnet for sonsoiracy though - most of it mental, but some of it true.

Join Holly and Matthew as they walk through the fire, the lives of the perpetrators, and the legacy of that night - a legacy that's still being written.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In early March, 1973, a collection if people from all walks of life - farmers, military police, police officers, criminals and laypeople - gathered at the Whiskey Au-Go-Go Brisbane for a night of fun, passion and music.

Around 2 a.m., their lives changed forever. Within 20 minutes, 15 people were dead, the club was destroyed, and the Whskey itself became a magnet for conspiracy thought - most of it outlandish, but some of it true.

Join Holly and Matthew as they walk through the fire, the lives of the perpetrators, and the legacy of that night - a legacy that's still being written.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Australia is home to some pretty unbelievable creatures, from the mighty platypus to to the Tasmanian Devil. When Europeans settled on the land, they heard stories of creatures dangerous to the human population, and which could strike at any time.

From the Bunyip to the Yowie, Gigantic Cats and Crocodiles hiding in dried-up watering holes, there's a lot of danger in this country. But there is none more dangerous than the Drop Bear.

For Episode 200, we look into the propaganda attempting to fictionalise or mythicise Australia's deadliest native species, and explain how best to avoid becoming its lunch when out walking in the bush.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

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When most people think of the Dreamtime, the first story that usually comes to mind is the Rainbow Serpent. The story of the Rainbow Serpent, however, suffers the same fate as the bunyip, the yowie, and many other Dreamtime creatures.

Across Australia, different Nations and Language Groups have different versions of the stories, from the malevelent, to the benevolent, from winged to mountainous.

Join Holly and Matthew as they examine some of the different stories, the different reasons for the stories, and the special place the stories of the Rainbow Serpent has in the hearts of the local peoples.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

As stumbled his way home, a green Holden Commodore pulled up nearby, calling him over. Inside were four young women, including 23-year-old Tracey Wigginton, Kim Jervis, Tracey Waugh, and Lisa Ptaschinski. The girls offered the inebriated man a lift, and he happily accepted. After all why would a grown man be afraid to get a lift from four young women?

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the crime that shocked a Queensland community, and the media circus that followed.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In the far-away days summer of 2009, a collection of bad luck, climate issues and circumstances led to the deadliest single day of bushfires to ever overcome the continent, 173 people died and more than 3500 buildings were razed.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the bushfires that shocked the nation, the circumstances that caused them, and the lessons learned - and applied during the 2019-2020 fire season.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In the far-away days summer of 2009, a collection of bad luck, climate issues and circumstances led to the deadliest single day of bushfires to ever overcome the continent, 173 people died and more than 3500 buildings were razed.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the bushfires that shocked the nation, the circumstances that caused them, and the lessons learned - and applied during the 2019-2020 fire season.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Dale Kerrigan is to Australia what Homer Simpson is to America: a 1980s/90s parody of the trashes levels of society, that has become someone you can only aspire to financially mulate.

Join Holly and Matthew as they enjoy the serenity of the old 1990s film, the cultural shifts that made it possible, and just how likely it would be for you to have to sue the government out of taking your land. Yep, so much serenity.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Built in the early 1800s, the Fremantle Lunatic Asylum, like most of Australia's colonial buildings, has held a number of occupations since its initial completion: Asylum, Gaol, Girls' school, Old Women's Home, and more.

Join Holly and Matthew as they travel through the history of the Asylum, and visit with a few ghosts along the way...


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

On October 16, 1988, a 63ft schooner called the Patanela set off on a voyage from Fremantle, to the south of Perth, WA, heading to Airlie Beach, QLD, in the Whitsundays region.

Somewhere along the way, the boat managed to get lost, radioing into Sydney, then requesting directions to the harbour.

Join Matthew and Holly as they examine the missing boat, how it vanished, and what could have happened to it.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In the 1960s, a man terrorised the Sydney night time, attacking lone, drunken men, mutilating their corpses, and taking trophies home. When a body was found under a delicatessen, he was identified and buried, as so many people are.

Almost a full year later, the same man was seen walking around the streets of Sydney. Who was this man, and what connection did he have to the Mutilator? Join Holly and Matthew as they explore the case, and the man behind the moniker...


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In the 1960s, a man terrorised the Sydney night time, attacking lone, drunken men, mutilating their corpses, and taking trophies home. When a body was found under a delicatessen, he was identified and buried, as so many people are.

Almost a full year later, the same man was seen walking around the streets of Sydney. Who was this man, and what connection did he have to the Mutilator? Join Holly and Matthew as they explore the case, and the man behind the moniker...


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

The walking bathroom carpet himself is an icon of Australia's morning television, as legendary as Hey Hey it's Saturday (without the blackface). However, his modern audience knows him from his YouTube clips more than his TV show.

Join Holly and Matthew as they slip back into nostalgia and enjoy reliving their lives as under-10s.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Australia's crime world can be a little intimidating for newcomers. You have men that look like normal bogan car enthusiasts, you have women that look like kind grandmothers, then you have Shane Chartres-Abbott: the Vampire Gigalo.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the man behind the moniker, the crimes that brought him to the police's attention -- and the court hearing that had him assassinated.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Australia's crime world can be a little intimidating for newcomers. You have men that look like normal bogan car enthusiasts, you have women that look like kind grandmothers, then you have Shane Chartres-Abbott: the Vampire Gigalo.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the man behind the moniker, the crimes that brought him to the police's attention -- and the court hearing that had him assassinated.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In the 1820s, a man would take the wilderness - and women - of Van Diemen's Land by storm, stealing hearts, wallets and watches alike. The Gentlemen Bushranger was a man who was feared by the men and adored by the women, doing his part to keep chivalry alive in the face of life in Tasmania.

Join Holly and Matthew as Matthew swoons over Brady, they discuss his history, and his antics.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In the 1820s, a man would take the wilderness - and women - of Van Diemen's Land by storm, stealing hearts, wallets and watches alike. The Gentlemen Bushranger was a man who was feared by the men and adored by the women, doing his part to keep chivalry alive in the face of life in Tasmania.

Join Holly and Matthew as Matthew swoons over Brady, they discuss his history, and his antics.

Happy New Year!


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

While Australians are known for our "eh, screw it" attitude when it comes to dealing with things, sometimes that doesn't turn out for the best. In December 1974, That attitude led to death, destruction, mayhem, and the second rebuilding of Darwin in 35 years.

Join Holly and Matthew as they explore the cyclone, the wrong turns (on behalf of cyclone and human alike) and the lessons we should have learned decades ago about complacency for Christmas.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

The "Francis & Eliza" departed Cork, Ireland, as part of a convoy of convict ships bound for Australia on December 5, 1814. The ship was under the command of Captain William Harrison, and began its journey under shifting, unsettled Northern Hemisphere winter weather.

A month after departing Ireland, on January 4, 1815, the Francis and Eliza was separated from its convoy by a winter storm near Madeira, an autonomous archipelago officially under the control of Portugal.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the longest trip of a convict ship, and the series of unfortunate events that prolonged its expedition - from pirates to mercenaries to American armsmen.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Blue ringed octopi are octopi covered in blue ring markings. You're welcome.

Join Holly and Matthew as they examine a creature that has a more dangerous reputation than they deserve, and listen to the reminisce about the before-times (Before the 2019-2020 fire season, and covid, and quarantine, and more covid, and...)


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In the late 1980s, a man single-handedly led a 14-month reign of terror on the elderly population of Sydney, attacking women in broad daylight with a hammer, stealing their purses and running away.

With a clear signature, the Granny Killer sought out elderly women he thought would make an easy mark for a fast robbery - and found a thirst for blood along the way.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the history of the Killer and his many attacks on the people of Sydney.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In the late 1980s, a man single-handedly led a 14-month reign of terror on the elderly population of Sydney, attacking women in broad daylight with a hammer, stealing their purses and running away.

With a clear signature, the Granny Killer sought out elderly women he thought would make an easy mark for a fast robbery - and found a thirst for blood along the way.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the history of the Killer and his many attacks on the people of Sydney.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In 1942, Darwin was a small town with limited civil and military infrastructure. Seeing its location in close proximity to the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), Portuguese Timor and others, the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force constructed bases near the town in the 1930s and the early years of World War II (1939-1945). In spite of being the Northern Territory’s capital city after the Territory split from South Australia in 1911, Darwin's pre-war permanent non-military population was 5,800 – for comparison, Sydney passed that population level in convicts alone, in 1816.

Considering all this, it's not surprising that Darwin became a target for the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces. Early in the morning of February 19, 1942, four Japanese aircraft carriers - Akagi, Kaga, Hiryū, and Sōryū – launched 188 aircraft into the sky, heading south for Darwin.

By the end of the day, the city was gone.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In 1942, Darwin was a small town with limited civil and military infrastructure. Seeing its location in close proximity to the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), Portuguese Timor and others, the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force constructed bases near the town in the 1930s and the early years of World War II (1939-1945). In spite of being the Northern Territory’s capital city after the Territory split from South Australia in 1911, Darwin's pre-war permanent non-military population was 5,800 – for comparison, Sydney passed that population level in convicts alone, in 1816.

Considering all this, it's not surprising that Darwin became a target for the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces. Early in the morning of February 19, 1942, four Japanese aircraft carriers - Akagi, Kaga, Hiryū, and Sōryū – launched 188 aircraft into the sky, heading south for Darwin.

By the end of the day, the city was gone.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

As of 2021, Skylab is the only space station 100% operated exclusively by the USA - everything else has been at the behest of or in conjunction with another nation, or as part of the ISS mission.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into this historic effort, its achievements, and the reason why it's sometimes called the "Chicken Little Satellite" in Australia.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

It's Halloween again! Join Holly and Matthew as they look into 3 stories from Canberra, and their spooky legacies:
- The 1940 Canberra Air Disaster
- The Ghosts of Duntroon House
- The Tuggeranong Yowie


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Australia is famous for a few things, most of which will kill you: Sun, Surf, Snakes, and Spiders. We've already covered most of the others, so why not focus on those creatures that feature in the most populous of fears: arachnophobia.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into some of the most interesting spiders on this continent, some interesting stories about them, and maybe learn a thing or two about our little helpful garden mates.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

The story of Jimmy Governor and his family is a particularly interesting story. Born in the world of the colonies and dying just short of the birth of the Commonwealth of Australia, this is the story of Australia's Indigenous outlaws who rebelled against the bigots in their life, only to find themselves on the wrong side of the law.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the life and times of the Governor Clan, and their legacy in the newly-born country.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

The story of Jimmy Governor and his family is a particularly interesting story. Born in the world of the colonies and dying just short of the birth of the Commonwealth of Australia, this is the story of Australia's Indigenous outlaws who rebelled against the bigots in their life, only to find themselves on the wrong side of the law.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the life and times of the Governor Clan, and their legacy in the newly-born country.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

At around 6.10pm on Oct 4, 1960, Anglican Minister Rev Lionel Browning and his wife were standing in their dining room, in the rectory at Cressy, Tas. They were looking east towards the hills, which were partially obscured by low clouds and rain, thus forming a rainbow in the setting sunlight.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Anyone who spends a decent amount of time on the wholesome side of the internet knows there are 3 pillars of society that the internet looks up to. These three pillars are men who have made an impression on the people who watched their shows, and encourage them to do their very best.

These three men are Bob Ross, Fred Rogers, and Steve Irwin.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the life of the late, great Steve Irwin, his relationship with animals and people, and his self-proclaimed view of money.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Anyone who spends a decent amount of time on the wholesome side of the internet knows there are 3 pillars of society that the internet looks up to. These three pillars are men who have made an impression on the people who watched their shows, and encourage them to do their very best.

These three men are Bob Ross, Fred Rogers, and Steve Irwin.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the life of the late, great Steve Irwin, his relationship with animals and people, and his self-proclaimed view of money.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

When Adelaide was constructed, planners were sure that, being a free colony without convicts, there would be no crime. How wrong they were...

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the first murder in a government building in Adelaide, and the many voices that saw it happen.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Monsters have been seen on the Australian continent all over, not just in NSW and Victoria. Join Holly and Matthew as they get on the trail of 3 such creatures, and the legends that have sprung up around them.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Australia's record protecting children of all nationalities is poor at best, and nothing makes this more obvious than even a cursory glance at the history of the Australian Catholic Church. For decades, people have been abandoning organised religion Could it have something to do with the power and control abusers have displayed over victims, cushioned in the bosom of the Church?

Join Holly and Matthew as they take a deep look into the history of the Australian Catholic Church as presented to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, and highlight two of the most shocking cases of long-form rape and abuse to come out of the proceedings...


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Australia's record protecting children of all nationalities is poor at best, and nothing makes this more obvious than even a cursory glance at the history of the Australian Catholic Church. For decades, people have been abandoning organised religion Could it have something to do with the power and control abusers have displayed over victims, cushioned in the bosom of the Church?

Join Holly and Matthew as they take a deep look into the history of the Australian Catholic Church as presented to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, and highlight two of the most shocking cases of long-form rape and abuse to come out of the proceedings...


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Australia's record protecting children of all nationalities is poor at best, and nothing makes this more obvious than even a cursory glance at the history of the Australian Catholic Church. For decades, people have been abandoning organised religion Could it have something to do with the power and control abusers have displayed over victims, cushioned in the bosom of the Church?

Join Holly and Matthew as they take a deep look into the history of the Australian Catholic Church as presented to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, and highlight two of the most shocking cases of long-form rape and abuse to come out of the proceedings...


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Stop me if you've heard this one.
Agent Smith, General Zod and Aldrich Killian walk into a pub...

Australia is a land of contrasts: Surf and sand, cold beer and hot days, gay bashings and a cult film about a trio of drag queens...

Wait, what?

In 1994, a small film made by a bunch of guerrilla filmmakers rewrote what being gay, transgender or a drag queen meant to the Australian public at large. From the feather boas to the famous 'Thong Dress', Priscilla made a splash that can be measured on the Australian consciousness, in our tolerance for those of the 'other'.

Join Matthew and Holly as they do a deep-dive into the world of Priscilla, the context of the shoot, and its impact around the world.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Stop me if you've heard this one.
Agent Smith, General Zod and Aldrich Killian walk into a pub...

Australia is a land of contrasts: Surf and sand, cold beer and hot days, gay bashings and a cult film about a trio of drag queens...

Wait, what?

In 1994, a small film made by a bunch of guerrilla filmmakers rewrote what being gay, transgender or a drag queen meant to the Australian public at large. From the feather boas to the famous 'Thong Dress', Priscilla made a splash that can be measured on the Australian consciousness, in our tolerance for those of the 'other'.

Join Matthew and Holly as they do a deep-dive into the world of Priscilla, the context of the shoot, and its impact around the world.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Between 1975 and 1999, dozens of men across Sydney found themselves the victims of assaults and murders. In 1988, Scott Johnson died off the cliffs of Manly. His body was found naked, and an investigation went underway.

30 years, 3 inquests and a public campaign later, his killer was close to hand. The investigation into Scott Johnson's murder uncovered many other men who lost their lives in similar fashion. Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the deaths known as the Sydney Cliff Murders, or the Gay Hate decades.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Between 1975 and 1999, dozens of men across Sydney found themselves the victims of assaults and murders. In 1988, Scott Johnson died off the cliffs of Manly. His body was found naked, and an investigation went underway.

30 years, 3 inquests and a public campaign later, his killer was close to hand. The investigation into Scott Johnson's murder uncovered many other men who lost their lives in similar fashion. Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the deaths known as the Sydney Cliff Murders, or the Gay Hate decades.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Between 1975 and 1999, dozens of men across Sydney found themselves the victims of assaults and murders. In 1988, Scott Johnson died off the cliffs of Manly. His body was found naked, and an investigation went underway.

30 years, 3 inquests and a public campaign later, his killer was close to hand. The investigation into Scott Johnson's murder uncovered many other men who lost their lives in similar fashion. Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the deaths known as the Sydney Cliff Murders, or the Gay Hate decades.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

It’s October 1, 1980, in the early morning in Victorian farm country. The sounds of cattle aren't entirely out of place in the area of Rosedale, VIC and one farm hand on the White Acres cattle station decided to investigate a small disturbance to the herd at about 1 am. The tone of the animals was strange, loud and unusual. Something was messing with the herd, causing them distress.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into one of Australia's most mysterious encounters, and the circumstances surrounding it...


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

When Europeans first set foot in Botany Bay, the local populations found their homes, their foods ounces and their lives under immediate threat. Some sought to negotiate; some fled. Still others stood their ground, and became a thorn in the side of the British Empire. This is one such story.

Join Holly and Matthew as they examine the scant and biased histories of the era, and seek out the truth on a 210-year vendetta.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

How did a criminal on the run result in the election of Pauline Hanson in the 1990s? Why did a man and some photos turn the public against the police? Just who is the Drop-in-Bandit?

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into Brendan Abbott and his crime-sprees.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Cockatoo Island, situated deep inside Sydney Harbour, has had continual use since time immemorial. Originally a sacred site, the island became a penal colony, a shipyard, and now a tourist location.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the history of the site, and the stories of ghosts that haunt the island's many buildings.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

When Europeans landed on the shores of Australia, a world of foreign animals and strange plants greeted their refined, English sensibilities. While the Americas had big cows and the bones of bigger elephants, Australia was home to jumping deer and teddy bears that drop from the trees to rip you apart. It took decades for the "duck-mole" to be discovered - and it took even longer for its strangest feature to be discovered.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the national treasure that is the platypus, and it's most unusual features.

**Happy end of Year 3, everyone!**


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Australia in February 2020, the Australian government faced its biggest medical emergency since the 1920s. With 100 years to prepare and refine their responses to the issue, the changes, differences and actions taken by the Australian Government helped us avoid disaster. Thanks to the work of the Lost Generation and their elders, the 2020 government knew exactly what to do and what to avoid, and worked to their greatest strengths.

Only kidding. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

What do the Hospital Ship Somali, the Member for Adelaide George Yates, and the Spanish Flu have in common? Listen to this episode to find out!


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

I'm sure you all saw this coming.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Australia in February 2020, the Australian government faced its biggest medical emergency since the 1920s. With 100 years to prepare and refine their responses to the issue, the changes, differences and actions taken by the Australian Government helped us avoid disaster. Thanks to the work of the Lost Generation and their elders, the 2020 government knew exactly what to do and what to avoid, and worked to their greatest strengths.

Only kidding. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the national pandemic response of 1919-1921 in this country, and the differences in policy, action and reaction to the emergency.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Keren Rowland was 20 years old when she went missing on 26 February 1971, the night of the Royal Canberra Show. Since then, what happened to her has been theorised and questioned, but one thing is sure: she was murdered.

Join Holly and Matthew in welcoming our first guest host, host of Capital Crime Files podcast Nichole Overall, as we look into this case that has fascinated Canberra and surrounds for 50 years. Is there a serial killer on the loose in the ACT? We hope to find out...


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Canberra may be the home of our lizard overlords, but in the 1970s, it was also the personal haunting ground for UFOs - and especially the poor woman Vikki Klein.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into Claude and the dog-faced aliens, and the journey of the Klein family.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Canberra may be the home of our lizard overlords, but in the 1970s, it was also the personal haunting ground for UFOs - and especially the poor woman Vikki Klein.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into Claude and the dog-faced aliens, and the journey of the Klein family.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

If there is such a thing as the perfect cult leader, Anne Hamilton-Byrne could be said to be it. Indoctrinating her cultists and the children she seeks to leave to rule the world, her only flaw (as a cult leader) is that she trusted too much.

Join Holly and Matthew for Year 3's Australian cult, the Family, and the consequences of their actions...

*Warning violence against kids*


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

If there is such a thing as the perfect cult leader, Anne Hamilton-Byrne could be said to be it. Indoctrinating her cultists and the children she seeks to leave to rule the world, her only flaw (as a cult leader) is that she trusted too much.

Join Holly and Matthew for Year 3's Australian cult, the Family, and the consequences of their actions...

*Warning violence against kids*


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Deep in the heartlands of southeast Victoria lives a monster so fearsome, so terrifying, that its very name used to scare the countryside.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the Wonthaggi Monster, its life in the bush, and possible modern sightings...


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Join Holly and Matthew as they examine the history of the Gippsland area, its treatment of the local peoples, and the placement of the cairns that memorialise a bloody point in Australia's history.


**Listener submitted - thanks to Akarna for her help with the research**

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Join Holly and Matthew as they examine the history of the Gippsland area, its treatment of the local peoples, and the placement of the cairns that memorialise a bloody point in Australia's history.


**Listener submitted, thanks to Akarna for her help with the research**

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

How did the man in the crocodile-skin vest go from painting on the Sydney Harbor Bridge, to rocking out in Hollywood? Join Holly and Matthew as they go through the life and adventures of Paul Hogan, and his rise to fame and glory.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

When two girls from Bega went missing while camping over a long weekend, a manhunt sprouted that would cover 3 states and months of work - and only be solved when one of perpetrators dobbed himself in.

Join Holly and Matthew as they examine the link between the Bega Killings, the Russell St Bombings, and the nation's capital, Canberra.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

It's time for a little fun in the sun. Are you ready to wiggle? In the 1990s, a small band became a hit group in the Australian music industry, and started a legacy that has evolved through 3 generations of members and countless millions of children over the last 30 years. Join Holly and Matthew as they examine the history of the biggest Australian group of all time, and their wholesome origin story.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

It's time for a little fun in the sun. Are you ready to wiggle? Back in the 1980s, Greg, Murray, Anthony and Jeff definitely weren't. Join Holly and Matthew as they examine the history of the biggest Australian group of all time, and their wholesome, lovely origin story.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

On a cold winter's night in 1997, a small town in the Snowy Mountains was rocked by an event that leaves scars on its surface - mental, physical and spiritual - to this day.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the events of that night, and the two weeks following...


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

On a cold winter's night in 1997, a small town in the Snowy Mountains was rocked by an event that leaves scars on its surface - mental, physical and spiritual - to this day.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the events of that night, and the two weeks following...


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Things happen in Central Station, Sydney, that are hard to explain. People talking with no one present, things moving, the sounds of ghostly trains. What could be causing these strange occurrences? Do they have anything to do with the abandoned stations? Or the graveyard disinterred to make way for the station?

Join Holly and Matthew as they go into the history of trains in Australia, and take a closer look at Central Station, Sydney, where ghosts are said to walk...


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Back in the 1920s, a war between rival 'pushes' erupted on the streets of Melbourne, resulting in multiple hospitalisations, a few deaths, and a city on the edge of panic. Who were the main players? Why did this happen?

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the life and legacy of Australia's first gangland figures, and the effect he and his friends would have on Melbourne's criminal history.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Back in the 1920s, a war between rival 'pushes' erupted on the streets of Melbourne, resulting in multiple hospitalisations, a few deaths, and a city on the edge of panic. Who were the main players? Why did this happen?

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the life and legacy of Australia's first gangland figures, and the effect he and his friends would have on Melbourne's criminal history.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Nestled in the south-eastern most tip of South Australia lives a mountain and the town named after it. This town is famous in the world of cryptozoology and ufology for the rare and unusual things that happen there.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the weird and wonderful of the town, the mountain and its crater lakes.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

The 1975 Constitutional Crisis has played a part in the Australian psyche in much the same way that Ned Kelly has: the main players in the game are either saint or sinner, depending on your pre-conceived biases and preferences.

But what actually happened? With the recent release of the Palace Letters tot he public, more of a clue to the inner workings of the Crisis has been revealed - though whether that makes things clearer or not is another question.

Join Holly and Matthew as they navigate the waters of the Constitutional Crisis, and the events that led up to its necessity.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

The 1975 Constitutional Crisis has played a part in the Australian psyche in much the same way that Ned Kelly has: the main players in the game are either saint or sinner, depending on your pre-conceived biases and preferences.

But what actually happened? With the recent release of the Palace Letters tot he public, more of a clue to the inner workings of the Crisis has been revealed - though whether that makes things clearer or not is another question.

Join Holly and Matthew as they navigate the waters of the Constitutional Crisis, and the events that led up to its necessity.


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Oz-sploitation was a big thing back in the 1990s. In the Christmas 2019 special, we teased doing the Last Continent for the 2020 special - and here we go.

Holly & Matthew pull apart the work of Terry Pratchett to examine the different cultural milestones and icons touched on with in the book. We couldn't cover everything, so we covered the most exciting pieces!

Merry Christmas for another year!


Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Snake awareness is something covered in the Australian education system alongside the likes of mainstays like Captain Cook and sunscreen. However, just like those subjects, the significance and impact of snakes on the Australian way of life is a little exaggerated.

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the ever-present menace that is the Australian serpents, their impacts on Australians and even some notable bite stories.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Australia's traditional religious tradition has always been a Catholic one, even if the majority of people in this country didn't - and still don't - subscribe to it.

The danger of this history comes in stark relief when fundamentalists and fanatics take control of situations. In 1993, the situation turned deadly for one 49 year old woman in Antwerp, VIC.

Join Holly and Matthew as they investigate the most famous exorcism on Australian shores, and the court case that followed.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Piracy in Australia has always been a big problem, whether they were aboard ships, on street corners, or in loungerooms. But where did that legacy start? Who were our most famous pirates? And why are New Zealand claiming them?

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the history of the Pirates of Venus, a pair of women who stole a ship, raided another, and sailed from Tasmania to New Zealand.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

There are few tv shows in Australian media that can boast the kind of longevity as Hey Hey, It's Saturday. Starting life as a kid's show, evolving into the most popular variety show on the air of its era, and moving into that show you're embarrassed your parents still watch, HHIS has seen it all.

Join Holly and Matthew as they explore 30 years of Australian TV, and the legacy that came out of it.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In the 1990s, a killer prowled amongst the people of Perth, picking up women in the early hours of the morning as they staggered home. However, this was not the first time the perp had committed crimes against women. As far back as the early 1980s, he was seen roaming the streets, searching out victims. However, it wasn't until the late 2010s that links were joined and a theory was posited: the Killer and the Prowler were one and the same...

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In the 1990s, a killer prowled amongst the people of Perth, picking up women in the early hours of the morning as they staggered home. However, this was not the first time the perp had committed crimes against women. As far back as the early 1980s, he was seen roaming the streets, searching out victims. However, it wasn't until the late 2010s that links were joined and a theory was posited: the Killer and the Prowler were one and the same...

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In 1954, the Royal Australian Air Force was faced with a problem: Alien sightings were at an all-time high. What was driving this phenomena?

Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the sightings that rocked the country, one month at a time. This episode, we examine January 1954, and the aliens of Adelaide and Melbourne.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In the 1970s, the entire institution of marriage in Australia was overhauled. Gone were the days where you had to prove your significant other was beating you, drinking you out of house and home, or just plain old cheating; now, the idea of a 'no-fault' divorce was introduced, and boy, did
jump on it.

However, not everyone was happy. The brand new Family Court was seen as heavily favouring the women in the split in terms of money, property and custody, in spite of the husbands' wishes. Not
everyone backed down and took the decisions of the court; some went so far as to threaten the judges and the court itself for its role in their perceived downfall.

One man would go further than the rest, and act on his threats.

Join Holly and Matthew as they tackle the topic that most couples avoid - divorce - while following this piece of historic true crime to what feels like its inevitable conclusion - 40 years in the making.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In the 1970s, the entire institution of marriage in Australia was overhauled. Gone were the days where you had to prove your significant other was beating you, drinking you out of house and home, or just plain old cheating; now, the idea of a 'no-fault' divorce was introduced, and boy, did
jump on it.

However, not everyone was happy. The brand new Family Court was seen as heavily favouring the women in the split in terms of money, property and custody, in spite of the husbands' wishes. Not
everyone backed down and took the decisions of the court; some went so far as to threaten the judges and the court itself for its role in their perceived downfall.

One man would go further than the rest, and act on his threats.

Join Holly and Matthew as they tackle the topic that most couples avoid - divorce - while following this piece of historic true crime to what feels like its inevitable conclusion - 40 years in the making.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In the 1970s, the entire institution of marriage in Australia was overhauled. Gone were the days where you had to prove your significant other was beating you, drinking you out of house and home, or just plain old cheating; now, the idea of a 'no-fault' divorce was introduced, and boy, did
jump on it.

However, not everyone was happy. The brand new Family Court was seen as heavily favouring the women in the split in terms of money, property and custody, in spite of the husbands' wishes. Not
everyone backed down and took the decisions of the court; some went so far as to threaten the judges and the court itself for its role in their perceived downfall.

One man would go further than the rest, and act on his threats.

Join Holly and Matthew as they tackle the topic that most couples avoid - divorce - while following this piece of historic true crime to what feels like its inevitable conclusion - 40 years in the making.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In the 1970s, the entire institution of marriage in Australia was overhauled. Gone were the days where you had to prove your significant other was beating you, drinking you out of house and home, or just plain old cheating; now, the idea of a 'no-fault' divorce was introduced, and boy, did
jump on it.

However, not everyone was happy. The brand new Family Court was seen as heavily favouring the women in the split in terms of money, property and custody, in spite of the husbands' wishes. Not
everyone backed down and took the decisions of the court; some went so far as to threaten the judges and the court itself for its role in their perceived downfall.

One man would go further than the rest, and act on his threats.

Join Holly and Matthew as they tackle the topic that most couples avoid - divorce - while following this piece of historic true crime to what feels like its inevitable conclusion - 40 years in the making.

Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod
"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod
Used under a Creative Commons license.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.