Forgotten Australia

In November 1971, at the exact moment that Prime Minister Billy McMahon’s wife Sonia stepped out in her infamously revealing dress at a White House dinner, Australian embassy officials in Washington were thrust into the first crucial hours of a serial killer investigation. Two young women had just been found murdered in a nearby apartment and D.C. homicide detectives believed the victims were from Down Under. In a race against time, American and Australian cops and diplomats would have to work together to identify the maniac before he stuck again.To Live & Die in D.C. reveals - for the very first time - an extraordinary instance of Australian true crime and Australian political history colliding during a shocking murder wave that was engulfing not only the American capitol but all of the United States. The five-part miniseries is based on information unearthed in Australian government archives, US court transcripts, American and Australian historic newspaper articles – and on recent interviews with two family members.More than a true crime deep dive, this miniseries remembers two fearless Australian women whose fates have been overlooked while Billy and Sonia McMahon’s ‘sexy’ White House shenanigans became part of pop culture history. To Live & Die in D.C. poses still relevant questions about sexism, racism, crime and justice – and who we remember and why.Check out my new book, They'll Never Hold Me:https://affirmpress.com.au/author/61917To support the show:Apple - http://apple.co/forgottenaustraliaPatreon - https://www.patreon.com/ForgottenAustraliaEmail: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com

How was the 1976 case of armed robber Phillip Western a prototype for the “Green Light” that’d soon be given to Neddy Smith? Continuing our in-depth interview, veteran journalist Neil Mercer explains how Roger Rogerson perverting the legal system for profit resulted in a forgotten murder and set the scene for future bloodbaths. Be sure to read Neil Mercer’s new book, The Kingpin and the Crooked Cop: The Definitive Inside Story of Neddy Smith and Roger Rogerson, Partners in Crime.Buy it here: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Neil-Mercer-Kingpin-and-the-Crooked-Cop-9781760879952Support Forgotten Australia:Apple - http://apple.co/forgottenaustraliaPatreon - https://www.patreon.com/ForgottenAustraliaCheck out my books:The Murder Squadhttps://www.booktopia.com.au/the-murder-squad-michael-adams/book/9781922863836.htmlHanging Ned Kellyhttps://www.booktopia.com.au/hanging-ned-kelly-michael-adams/book/9781922992185.htmlAustralia’s Sweethearthttps://www.booktopia.com.au/australia-s-sweetheart-michael-adams/book/9780733640292.html

How did a hero detective become Australia’s most notoriously corrupt killer cop? In an in-depth conversation, veteran journalist Neil Mercer talks about the Rogerson he interviewed and investigated, starting with their first meeting in 1982. Be sure to read Neil Mercer’s new book, The Kingpin and the Crooked Cop: The Definitive Inside Story of Neddy Smith and Roger Rogerson, Partners in Crime.Buy it here: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Neil-Mercer-Kingpin-and-the-Crooked-Cop-9781760879952Support Forgotten Australia:Apple - http://apple.co/forgottenaustraliaPatreon - https://www.patreon.com/ForgottenAustraliaCheck out my books:The Murder Squadhttps://www.booktopia.com.au/the-murder-squad-michael-adams/book/9781922863836.htmlHanging Ned Kellyhttps://www.booktopia.com.au/hanging-ned-kelly-michael-adams/book/9781922992185.htmlAustralia’s Sweethearthttps://www.booktopia.com.au/australia-s-sweetheart-michael-adams/book/9780733640292.html

A new murder committed by a 17-year-old brings the tally of boys on Death Row to ten. From April 1936 onwards, the NSW government has to decide who’ll live and who’ll die. With time running out in one case, they rush towards a ‘ghastly mistake’, while in another what they decide will lead to another murder more than 50 years later in Queensland.To support the show:Apple - http://apple.co/forgottenaustraliaPatreon - https://www.patreon.com/ForgottenAustraliaCheck out my books:(there’s a new one…)They’ll Never Hold Me @ Dymockshttps://www.dymocks.com.au/book/theyll-never-hold-me-by-michael-adams-9781923046474Hanging Ned Kelly @ Dymockshttps://www.dymocks.com.au/book/hanging-ned-kelly-by-michael-adams-9781922992185The Murder Squad @ Dymockshttps://www.dymocks.com.au/book/the-murder-squad-by-michael-adams-9781923046504Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com

In March 1936, a young Italian woman testifies against her seven rapists in open court, speaking bravely against their claims she’d consented to their violent group assault.To support the show:Apple - http://apple.co/forgottenaustraliaPatreon - https://www.patreon.com/ForgottenAustraliaCheck out my books:(there’s a new one…)They’ll Never Hold Me @ Dymockshttps://www.dymocks.com.au/book/theyll-never-hold-me-by-michael-adams-9781923046474Hanging Ned Kelly @ Dymockshttps://www.dymocks.com.au/book/hanging-ned-kelly-by-michael-adams-9781922992185The Murder Squad @ Dymockshttps://www.dymocks.com.au/book/the-murder-squad-by-michael-adams-9781923046504Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com

In the lazy days between Christmas and New Year in Wagga Wagga in 1935, a 17-year-old boy spends the festive season indulging in romantic fakery, prepared to defend his deception with cold-blooded murder.To support the show:Apple - http://apple.co/forgottenaustraliaPatreon - https://www.patreon.com/ForgottenAustraliaCheck out my books:(there’s a new one…)They’ll Never Hold Me @ Dymockshttps://www.dymocks.com.au/book/theyll-never-hold-me-by-michael-adams-9781923046474Hanging Ned Kelly @ Dymockshttps://www.dymocks.com.au/book/hanging-ned-kelly-by-michael-adams-9781922992185The Murder Squad @ Dymockshttps://www.dymocks.com.au/book/the-murder-squad-by-michael-adams-9781923046504Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com

Another young criminal faces the ultimate penalty after being convicted of shooting a man during a Sydney railway robbery. But is the Hooded Bandit about to be hanged because the government is making a ghastly legal mistake?To support the show:Apple - http://apple.co/forgottenaustraliaPatreon - https://www.patreon.com/ForgottenAustraliaCheck out my books:(there’s a new one…)They’ll Never Hold Me @ Dymockshttps://www.dymocks.com.au/book/theyll-never-hold-me-by-michael-adams-9781923046474Hanging Ned Kelly @ Dymockshttps://www.dymocks.com.au/book/hanging-ned-kelly-by-michael-adams-9781922992185The Murder Squad @ Dymockshttps://www.dymocks.com.au/book/the-murder-squad-by-michael-adams-9781923046504Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com

With Monty Henwood’s 17-year-old alleged killer in custody, police are amazed by the youth’s calm confessions… even though they might see him sentenced to death.*Part two of The Boys of Death Row. The whole miniseries is available ad-free and early to supporters. Parts three to six on general release over the next three weeks.*To support the show:Apple - http://apple.co/forgottenaustraliaPatreon - https://www.patreon.com/ForgottenAustraliaCheck out my books:(there’s a new one…)They’ll Never Hold Me @ Dymockshttps://www.dymocks.com.au/book/theyll-never-hold-me-by-michael-adams-9781923046474Hanging Ned Kelly @ Dymockshttps://www.dymocks.com.au/book/hanging-ned-kelly-by-michael-adams-9781922992185The Murder Squad @ Dymockshttps://www.dymocks.com.au/book/the-murder-squad-by-michael-adams-9781923046504Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com

On a Monday morning in November 1935, a battered man is found dead beside railway tracks in the Blue Mountains. The victim is revered and his death is a mystery. But Sydney police, led by murder expert Detective-Sergeant Tom McRae, are soon on the trail of a young killer.*Part one of The Boys of Death Row. The whole miniseries is available ad-free and early to supporters. Parts two to six on general release over the next three weeks.*To support the show:Apple - http://apple.co/forgottenaustraliaPatreon - https://www.patreon.com/ForgottenAustraliaCheck out my books:(there’s a new one…)They’ll Never Hold Me @ Dymockshttps://www.dymocks.com.au/book/theyll-never-hold-me-by-michael-adams-9781923046474Hanging Ned Kelly @ Dymockshttps://www.dymocks.com.au/book/hanging-ned-kelly-by-michael-adams-9781922992185The Murder Squad @ Dymockshttps://www.dymocks.com.au/book/the-murder-squad-by-michael-adams-9781923046504Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com