The History Listen

ABC listen
The History Listen

New and compelling stories from Australia and around the world. Step inside a time machine for an immersive journey into the past.

  1. 14 DEC

    Laja's Way Home part 1

    In 1945, Laya Semler became the last Jew sent to a concentration camp from Wennigsen, Germany.  Her non-Jewish husband Adolf chose slave labour rather than abandon her.  They both survived. In 2022, the village of Wennigsen invited their Australian family back to commemorate Laya and Adolf’s bravery. Told by their great-grandchildren, Laya and Adolf’s story is testament to the power love has to bridge even the greatest differences.  But it’s also the story of a town only just coming to terms with the truth of its past.  A truth that, as Laya and Adolf’s descendants discover first-hand, not everyone in the town is ready to accept...   Joanna Kalowski at the opening of the new street in Wennigsen, Germany, named after her grandmother Laya Semler Guests: Joanna Kalowski - internationally recognised mediator and granddaughter of Laya and Adolf Semler Michael Wittich - historian for the town of Wennigsen Franz Blazek - former mayor of Wennigsen Silke Stremlau - resident of Wennigsen Credits: Writers: Rick Kalowski and Michaela Kalowski Presenters: Michaela Kalowski and Rick Kalowski Producer: Claudia Taranto Sound Engineer: Hamish Camilleri Research assistance : Tadhg Kalowski

    29 min

  2. 7 DEC

    Cyclone Tracy: survivor stories

    Fifty years ago, in the early hours of Christmas Day 1974, Cyclone Tracy killed 66 people and decimated the city of Garramilla/Darwin. Afterwards more than 30,000 residents were evacuated, many never returning to Darwin.  Writing down memories of the event helped some survivors of the cyclone process the experience. Hear a handful of these stories, set in crumbling houses, airborne cars, a busy restaurant and an overcrowded hospital, all set to the terrifying real-life soundtrack of Cyclone Tracy.   (image courtesy of the NT Archive : LANT LJ Adams NTRS 3129 P2, item 1 Caption "Chris Adams looking at Cyclone Tracy destruction, 26 December 1974")

    28 min

  3. 30 NOV

    The Crutchy Push

    It’s the early 1900s and a gang of men moves through the gritty streets of inner-city North Melbourne: they dress sharp and inspire fear wherever they go. This gang, the Crutchy Push ruled the streets of North Melbourne over a ten year period, from late 1890s. And the reason for their curious name? All the members of this gang were amputees: mostly one-legged, and they used a crutch - and not just for walking! To mark the International Day for People With Disability, Melbourne-based writer and disability advocate  Kaitlyn Blythe digs up the little-known story of the gang and its’ charismatic leader Valentine Keating, and explores how it busts a lot of myths about disabled people in Australian history.   Guests: Brendan Gleeson Tansy Bradshaw   Readings  -  Toby Truslove    Credits: Producer -  Kaitlyn Blythe  Sound design and production -  Matthew Crawford Supervising Producer -  Michelle Rayner

    24 min

  4. 26 NOV

    A Good Honest Criminal

    It’s March 25th, 1999, and Australia’s most remarkable prison escape has just taken place, after a helicopter hovers above the recreation grounds at the Silverwater maximum security prison, in Sydney. In the blink of an eye, a prisoner runs towards the chopper, climbs onboard, and is on his way to freedom. This is the story of that airborne escapee, John Killick, a man who spent much of his life leading the authorities on a merry dance. Somehow he survived his dangerous escapades and many prison stints. Today, in his early 80s, John is a writer, a public speaker. and a counsellor to ex-crims.   Credits: Producer: Brian McKenzie Sound Engineer: Tim Symonds

    29 min

  5. 16 NOV

    Florence: A murder still unsolved – Part 2

    In a shocking and brutal end to a colourful life, Australian wallpaper designer Florence Broadhurst was murdered in her Paddington studio on the 15th of October, 1977.  So who was suspected of this crime and why is the case still unsolved to this day?  Please listen with care - this episode contains graphic content.    Guests: Tony Russell – Former NSW Police officer  Helen O’Neill – Journalist and author, Florence Broadhurst: her secret and extraordinary lives    Mark Whittaker – Journalist and author, Granny killer: the story of John Glover  Babette Hayes OAM – Interior designer  Vincent Jones – VP Sales & Licensing, Asia-Pacific, Centa IP  David Lloyd-Lewis – Grandson of Florence Broadhurst    Credits: Producer – Zoe Ferguson  Engineer – Simon Branthwaite  Executive Producer – Michelle Rayner

  6. 9 NOV

    Florence: A life papered over – Part 1

    She’s one of Australia’s most prolific and popular designers, and yet not many people know her name, let alone her audacious life story.    Florence Broadhurst was from regional Queensland but people who met her later in life,  thought she was English aristocrat. She reinvented herself many times throughout her life.    Today she’s known for her wallpaper designs that cemented her in Australian design history.  But a shadow lingers over her legacy; her unsolved murder in 1977.   Guests: Helen O’Neill – Journalist and author, Florence Broadhurst: Her secret and extraordinary lives    Dr Andrew Field – Associate Professor of Chinese History, Duke Kunshan University  Babette Hayes OAM – Interior designer  David Lennie – Screen printer, Signature Prints  Sheridan Black – Owner, Signature Handprints  Tony Russell – Former NSW Police officer  David Lloyd-Lewis – Grandson of Florence Broadhurst  Laura Doble – Interior design graduate   Credits: Producer – Zoe Ferguson  Engineer – Simon Branthwaite  Executive Producer – Michelle Rayner

  7. 2 NOV

    The Mavis Files

    When superannuation pioneer Mavis Robertson was in her seventies, she was showered with awards and honours. But something was missing from the life story shared with the public at this time: the more than 30 years she spent as a leading member of the Communist Party of Australia. Historian Alice Garner and Mavis's son Peter Robertson delve into this part of his mother's life, including her extensive ASIO security file.

    30 min

  8. 26 OCT

    Day 9 at Wooreen: the school that was kidnapped

    An entire school is kidnapped at gunpoint. 9 students and their teacher are taken hostage by a prison escapee who demands a ransom of 7 million dollars, the release of 17 prisoners, 100 kilos of cocaine, automatic weapons, and an escape vehicle.

    30 min
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About

New and compelling stories from Australia and around the world. Step inside a time machine for an immersive journey into the past.

Information

  • Creator
    ABC listen
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2024
  • Episodes
    298
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All right reserved.
  • Show Website
    The History Listen

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