Weird Crap In Australia

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 These Australians began exercising their influence against restrictive legislation, outdated morality and social issues within Australian society, which is exactly the opposite of what their generation stands for now.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 Hol

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.

Visitors to a Sydney Aquarium on Anzac Day 1935 were horrified to witness the frenzy of a shark disgorging its stomach contents into its tank. Along with the usual debris of the sea - a half-eaten shark, some fishing line and a fish carcass or two - was the unusual sight this day would become known for: a single, human hand with a rope trailing around it, floating up from the mess. 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.

There are few Australian bands that are internationally famous, and only one that is so famous as to end up in a book I love reading (Ready Player One, Ernest Cline) highlighting the song everyone knows - though their catalogue has a lot of bangin' hits. For more than 40 years, Midnight Oil has been screaming about climate change and other political movements. Join Holly and Matthew as they look at Midnight Oil, Peter Garrett, and the journey both have taken since 1976.All clips within are copyright of their respective owners, not us. Just in case :)

There are few Australian bands that are internationally famous, and only one that is so famous as to end up in a book I love reading (Ready Player One, Ernest Cline) highlighting the song everyone knows - though their catalogue has a lot of bangin' hits. For more than 40 years, Midnight Oil has been screaming about climate change and other political movements. Join Holly and Matthew as they look at Midnight Oil, Peter Garrett, and the journey both have taken since 1976.All clips within are copyright of their respective owners, not us. Just in case :)

There are few Australian bands that are internationally famous, and only one that is so famous as to end up in a book I love reading (Ready Player One, Ernest Cline) highlighting the song everyone knows - though their catalogue has a lot of bangin' hits. For more than 40 years, Midnight Oil has been screaming about climate change and other political movements. Join Holly and Matthew as they look at Midnight Oil, Peter Garrett, and the journey both have taken since 1976."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

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.

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...

In February 1986, a woman went out with friends after work, then headed home. When her family awoke the next morning and realised she hadn't arrived, they assumed she'd stayed with her friends for the night. It wasn't until Monday when her workplace called up to say she'd missed a shift that they realised anything was wrong. The role of true crime in the media world is that of cheap clicks (or, in 1986, easy sales). It was the Anita Cobby case that brought the corruption in the 4th estate (and the lack of morality within the shockjock community) to public attention. 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.

When Europeans arrived in Port Jackson in 1788, they found that their intended settlement consisted of a couple of different geological features; a marsh, a hilly countryside covered in bushland, and a rocky outcropping. As the free settlers lay claim to the nicer areas, the convicts were sent further west, closer and closer to the steep hillside we now call the Rocks. 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.

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=tbiE6K1TZDEMain Theme music – Kevin MacLeod"Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeodUsed under a Creative Commons license.

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.

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 MacLeodUsed under a Creative Commons license.

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.

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!

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.

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?

Early in September 1934, a young man was walking his bull home from the local farm show when he spotted something lying in a culvert by the road. Curious, he wandered over to have a look. What that young man found on the edge of the road would haunt Australia for 10 years - and arguably longer. Join Holly and Matthew as they pick apart the case and the problems that come from detective work in the 1930s.

Early in September 1934, a young man was walking his bull home from the local farm show when he spotted something lying in a culvert by the road. Curious, he wandered over to have a look. What that young man found on the edge of the road would haunt Australia for 10 years - and arguably longer. Join Holly and Matthew as they pick apart the case and the problems that come from detective work in the 1930s.

Only 3 Olympic games since WWII, a staple of the modern Olympics was only newborn. Why did someone have such distain for this new addition? How did they manage to fool not only the police and the crowd, but the Mayor of Sydney?Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the origins of the Torch Relay and the different attempts to subvert it during the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.