Season 3

Former Triple-J shock jock Helen Razer recently hit the headlines in the worst way - persistent harassment by a stalker. Helen speaks for the first time talks openly about her harrowing experience. What happens when a strong, confident person is confronted with events out of her control? For Helen the stalking experience has been so devastating it has destroyed her career as a live broadcaster. On a personal front, friendships have dissolved, as some people found it difficult to understand and cope with her resultant depression and illness. In an attempt to reinvent herself, the blonde grunge girl is gone, replaced by a glamorous redhead looking to the future.

In Perth in 1963, notorious killer, Eric Edgar Cooke is about to go to the gallows after a series of gruesome killings which have held the city in a vice of terror for many months. With only minutes left to live before he faces the noose, he apparently has something weighing heavily on his mind. He reiterates a confession he's made before, insisting that he was responsible for yet another murder. The additional victim claimed by Cooke is 17-year-old Rosemary Anderson who died from her injuries after being deliberately hit by a car. But someone has already been tried, convicted and imprisoned for killing Rosemary - her boyfriend, John Button, himself only 19 years old. Thirty-five years later a highly regarded Perth journalist, Estelle Blackburn meets John Button's brother at a dance. That chance encounter sets Estelle off on a long and exhaustive process of investigation that will turn her own life upside down. It's the story of one woman's relentless determination to expose and prove a miscarriage of justice. But it is also the story of a shocking legacy of grief that has endured in several families as a consequence of the terrible events of the summer of 1963. Also interviewed for the story is former High Court Judge, Sir Ronald Wilson who, as Chief Crown Prosecutor, conducted the case against John Button. He has become reacquainted with John Button and tells Australian Story that if there is new evidence he would support a review of the case. If the verdict is proven unsafe, he also believes John Button should be pardoned.

In 1945, a young soldier serving in Papua New Guinea in the dying days of World War Two received an urgent summons from his commanding officer. The young soldier was Hunter Landale, scion of an immensely wealthy squatter family based in Deniliquin in the New South Wales Riverina. The news from the C.O. was bad. The family property was on the verge of ruin, with the banks moving into sell and the family fortune all but gone. Severe drought and the activities of Hunter's playboy dad, with his extravagant lifestyle of partying, gambling and polo playing, had brought the fine old property to its knees. Hunter Landale, who had been somewhat estranged from his father, took on the task of saving "Mundiwa" and turning around the fortunes of the family. He has succeeded beyond anybody's wildest dreams, becoming a pioneer and advocate for irrigation and diversity on the land. What was formerly a pastoral property has now become a showcase for rice production - attracting hundreds of Japanese visitors every year. As this remarkable saga unfolds into the present day, what emerges is not just the story of one family, but a microcosm of farming history in south-east Australia. It is a fascinating evocation of a vanished past in which colonial Australians lived like British lords with scarcely any concession to the realities of the landscape into which they had transplanted themselves. But, as Hunter prepares to hand over to his own son, "adapt or perish" has become the new ethos.

Ruth Ostrow has made a sometimes notorious name for herself as a "sexpert". Earlier this year Communications Minister Richard Alston accused her of creating Sodom and Gomorrah on the airwaves. But while Ruth publicly advocates full-on hedonism, her own private life, as she admits, is a lot less smooth than she would like. In Australian Story we encounter her private world; her mother and her sisters, who are still coming to terms with the former finance journalist's penchant for sharing her intimate secrets with the world. And her ex-stockbroker husband Morris who she met in most unlikely circumstances. He used to read her popular relationship columns in The Australian newspaper and started writing fan letters. "I thought the guy was nuts," she said. But she was eventually intrigued enough to meet him - and he turned out to be anything but the man of her dreams. "The daggiest, daggiest guy I had ever met". Nevertheless they married and have a young daughter. Ruth admits that where sex is concerned, it really is possible to have too much of a good thing. "You can overdose on sex the way that you overdose on chocolate." Now she's wondering what to do next.

John Fitzgerald is a 35-year-old business tycoon with all the trappings of great wealth. He owns and runs a polo team. He lives in a Gold Coast mansion and throws glamorous parties. He's a self-made man and he enjoys his material success. But, John Fitzgerald is a man with a past. His experiences as a fatherless boy who felt abandoned have propelled him in unusual directions in the last few years. He is the sole benefactor and creator of a registered charity called the Toogoolawa Foundation which aims to assist and rehabilitate street kids . Not only does he fund it, he actively participates in workshops and other activities and tries to imbue the kids with some of his own survival strategies and philosophies. His partners in this endeavour are eminent psychologist Dr Ron Farmer and his wife, Swanti. Swanti and Ron FarmerThe Toogoolawa approach is unconventional and mixes Eastern mysticism and spirituality with a dose of old fashioned, right-wing values. Many of Fitzgerald's business associates are unaware of his philanthropic activities which seem to stem from some tough experiences as a youngster - losing his father when he was only eight and being sent off to boarding school where he witnessed systematic abuse of other children. Ron Farmer says: "What struck us about him was that he was a man who knew how to make money but he also had this sense of responsibility to the community. And in fact he didn't regard this skill of making money as his own, he said it's been given to him." Fitzgerald tells Australian Story that his goal now is to set up other Toogoolawa Foundations in other states and persuade other members of the business community to invest in helping kids.

Michael Willesee dominated Australian current affairs television for nearly three decades. For a long time everything he touched, inside and outside the media industry, turned to gold, seemingly without much effort on his part. In the late eighties, after a couple of highly publicised controversies, he walked away from his on camera life and pursued a number of outside business interests including a thoroughbred horse stud. The son of a Whitlam Government Cabinet Minister, Sen. Don Willesee, young Michael says he fell into journalism by accident. Now in his late fifties, twice divorced, father of five and grandfather of one, Michael Willesee seems to be engaged on his own search for meaning. He is increasingly committed to making documentaries about subjects he considers important.

If it were not for Stuart Littlemore, it's unlikely anyone outside of the Illawarra region would ever have heard of Peter Cullen. But Littlemore's merciless lampooning of "The Merc" turned the paper into a byword for the excesses and frailties of tabloid journalism. It was a notoriety Cullen came to enjoy in a masochistic kind of way. He says he and Littlemore even exchanged Christmas cards. But now, after thirty years in the job, Peter Cullen is retiring and handing over to a handpicked protege. Australian Story joined him for his last fortnight at the helm of "The Merc" and quite a fortnight it turned out to be as Cullen tackled what he describes as the biggest story in the paper's history - the Wollongong floods. As the story unfolds, we also discover that there's rather more to Cullen and "The Merc" than you'd ever guess from "Media Watch". Cullen cares deeply for his local community to whom his love of football and horse racing is well known. But he's also passionate about poetry and opera. In the post Littlemore era, the newspaper has even earned recognition for its work in uncovering the activities of alleged paedophiles including former mayor Frank Arkell who was murdered in his bed in July. It emerges that Cullen paid a high personal price for the campaign, not least in facing accusations of betrayal from his own church.

He's been called a national disgrace and a racist. He seems never to be out of the headlines. He's been forced to justify his actions to the Federal Sports Minister. He's had major run ins with some of Australia's best loved sporting heroes. Even the Queen has weighed into some of the arguments Arthur has started. But, whatever else they say about him, Arthur Tunstall reckons no one could ever deny his passion and commitment to Australian sport over the last half century. As Arthur was preparing to pack his bags for the Commonwealth Games, Australian Story obtained a series of candid interviews with Arthur himself, family, friends and sporting associates. For the first time we hear the full story behind such infamous incidents as the Cathy Freeman flag saga; the "embarrassing" disabled athlete comment and the rows over Arthur's "racist" jokes. But even as filming concluded, Arthur was making front page headlines yet again with an unrepentant speech to the Australian Olympic Writers and Photographers Association in Sydney during which he reeled off a series of jokes about Jews and Aborigines. He also broke down, choked with emotion, as he paid tribute to his wife and the traumas she has had to endure because of his outspokeness.

When Tan Le was just four years old she fled Vietnam in a boat with her mother. They endured a dangerous and terrifying voyage before eventually being accepted into Australia as refugees. They had no money, no possessions and no male breadwinner. But both Tan Le and her mother Mai have achieved personal success. Mai was last year voted mayor of Maribyrnong. Tan is in the last year of a law degree. Both have made outstanding contributions of their local community as volunteer workers. Tan is an enthusiastic AFL supporter and is the Bulldogs No.1 ticket holder. Receiving her Young Australian of the Year Award, Tan paid tribute to the acceptance she and her family had received in Australia. "I accept this award as a young Australian on behalf of all Australians and on behalf of all those who have been welcomed and on behalf of all those who continue to welcome," she said. "We are all Australians. We can all be proud of it and work towards a country that accepts everyone, not for the way they look or because they are wealthy or successful but, because of the person they are. And when we have that as a fundamental benchmark I think Australia can be a much better place." PLUS: Top Brass: One hundred years ago Bill and Charles Downing forged a business that has been passed from father to son, and relies solely on good, old-fashioned values and quality workmanship. Alderice Brassfounders survived the Depression, and two world wars, and recently the company held its Centenary celebrations in Warrnambool, Victoria. The business has occupied the same building since 1920, with virtually no modern equipment and only the occassional lick of paint - even the receptionist has been with Alderice for 52 years. This is a lovely story about an enduring family tradition, defying the forces of economic rationalism.

Seven years ago Annabel Walsh received a call from the local police informing her that her husband, John, had been involved in a car accident. She wasn't too worried, aware that he often drove too fast and there was no other vehicle involved. However, Annabel was shocked when she saw the extent of his injuries and she realised that her life would never be the same. John was left with serious brain injuries, able only to squeeze her hand. He will never recover and is permanently hospitalised. Consequently, Annabel decided not to sell the farm as she was being urged to do, but stay there with her three children and attempt to run it herself. She has done this with aplomb - managing not only the property and the children, but finding time for community work as well. Annabel resumed her pilot's licence to make it easier to get around and threw herself into the task of making the land pay. Many of the people she meets thinks she is remarkable for running the property on her own, but she sees it as just getting on with life. PLUS: Chariots of Fire Gavin Sandford-MorganMotoring journalist Peter Wherrett introduces the story of Gavin Sandford-Morgan who has turned a passion for vintage cars into an internationally successful restoration business. It started with death of Gavin's wife when he was 62. Anxious to keep busy he set up a workshop in Adelaide to restore his own cars and those of friends. One thing led to another and now cars are sent to him from all over the world.

In The Long Journey Home we meet Jacqui Katona a young, western educated, Aboriginal woman who embarked on a journey to discover her Aboriginal heritage and is now the charismatic leader of the campaign to stop the Jabiluka uranium mine.

Hot Gossip: She's been described as the Hedda Hopper of Sydney's social scene. She's flamboyant, colourful and not afraid to put people's noses out of joint. She has a sharp tongue and an even sharper pen. She's had famous spats with James Packer, Sonia McMahon, Leona Edmiston and a host of others. She's Ros Reines, gossip columnist extraordinaire for Sydney's Sunday Telegraph. Simon KentHer competitor from Sydney's Sun-Herald is Simon Kent. Simon is somewhat more restrained than Ros - he tends to get one boot in, not two - but he has also received the odd threat in the course of his reporting. Australian Story accompanies Ros and Simon on a whirlwind tour of Sydney's hot social spots - the Cointreau Ball, the Louis Vuitton bash, Tiffany's 4th of July celebrations, cocktails at the MG Garage. Along the way, we get an intimate look at Sydney's social scene and find out the current 'hot gossip'. PLUS: Green Nomad: Five years ago, John Wilson was a psychiatrist with a busy Sydney practice. Inspired by some of his patients, who had expressesd their concerns about environmental issues, he decided to sell his Woollahra home and take off to the bush. John now lives out of the back of a 4WD and has dedicated himself to a nomadic existence. He admits to a need for solitude after having overdosed on "human vibrations" as a psychiatrist but, he has allowed himself a couple of luxuries to compensate his frugal existence, including a solar powered lap top. For John, Australia is a special place, much of which is largely unexplored. He doesn't regret his decision to give up his practice for one moment, and despite being scorned by some of his colleagues, he is gratified to learn that some of them have followed his lead.

Tony Cooke is the Secretary for the WA Trades and Labor Council. He is known to be a skilled moderator. Yet, for the past 35 years, Tony has lived with the knowledge that his father was the last man to be hanged in Western Australia.

The Unlikely Dad Peter Downey was an only child, loved to joke and party and had little interest in children. When his wife, Meredith, announced she was pregnant, he was thunderstruck: "It was like she said to me, you're going to live on the moon!" But rather than dwell on his 'terror' of pregnancy and fatherhood, Peter decided to puts his thoughts down on paper. Drawing on anecdotes and experiences, often related over the barbeque with his mates, Peter soon had a book. He sent it off to a publisher and, to everyone's surprise, it was snapped up. The result: "So You're Going to be a Dad". It's an international best seller and is in its sixth reprint. Peter now leads a double life - mild mannered teacher and dad versus parenting guru and media commentator. He's a rapt parent, happy to be a father but proud that he still hangs onto his shiny red Honda bike. The change in his life is revealed through terrific home video footage which records his transformation from long-hair musician through his wife's pregnancies to be-spectacled cardigan-wearing father. PLUS: Bush Smithy Jack Spears learnt the art of blacksmithing in his teens and continued what had been a family tradition. However, the on set of the Great Depression and the gradual motorising of farm work forced him to look elsewhere for a job. In 1939, the Black Friday bushfires claimed seventy-one lives and burnt almost a third of Victoria, and in its aftermath, in the rugged ranges east of Melbourne, the race began to salvage the fire-kill timber. Enter Jack Spears, a tough, no-nonsense character, who spent the next forty years working in the timber industry. One of Jack's greatest skills is the almost forgotten art of tree-climbing, where an axeman scales a large eucalypt using a rope and a pair of of "climbing spurs". Now 82, Jack and his wife live in the picturesque mountain town of Icy Creek, where he continues to train young smithy's and tree-climbing axemen.

Inspector Chris Ferguson leads the men and women of the Accident Investigation Squad of the Victoria Police. The unit is the only one of its kind in Australia and has been instrumental in halving the deaths on Victorian roads. As head of Victoria's Accident Investigation Section (AIS), Ferguson is on call 24 hours a day, and he is responsible for investigating fatal collisions - at any time he can be called out to an accident anywhere in Victoria. But, Ferguson has had his own share of drama and tragedy, having been involved in some of the most controversial and notorious incidents in the Victorian police. In 1986, Ferguson was one of many officers who were inside the Russell Street Police Headquarters, when a bomb ripped through the building killing Constable Angela Taylor. However, the most confronting situation Ferguson has faced in his career was his involvement in the Jensen shooting. Graeme Jensen was gunned down by police in 1988 during an attempted armed robbery in Melbourne. Five years after the shooting, in a blaze of publicity, Ferguson and seven of his colleagues were charged with Jensen's murder. They were suspended from the police force for two years. Ferguson's life changed. In 1995 all charges against Ferguson were dropped and he was reinstated. Despite this, instead of turning his back on the force, he has embraced the work of the Accident Investigation Section.

Tracey Wickham was a national hero when she was only thirteen years old.

One Dark Night It happens so easily. A dark night, a quiet street, a couple of people out walking ... a young driver going a little faster than he should be and suddenly there's a terrible accident. It happened in Northern New South Wales on December 21, four years ago. It left one of the pedestrians dead and the other one seriously brain damaged. The driver was 20 year old Andrew Laing, a "kind, thoughtful young man" who'd never before given his parents any worry or concern. Andrew pleaded guilty to culpable driving. The judge sentenced him to 400 hours community service. He said .."simply it was one of those regrettable and tragic accidents that occurred through circumstances." Andrew was stricken with remorse and depression. "I thought what was the good of living. I was very reckless. I thought well I've killed people so I deserve to die and I just went through that torment for years. One night after a party, his girlfriend caught him out with another girl. He climbed out on to the balcony of her flat to escape detection but, he slipped and fell four storeys, sustaining serious head injuries. He was not expected to live. In a deep coma, he underwent what he says was a near death experience. He believes he "saw" Margaret, the woman he'd killed, and that she forgave him and told him to return and get on with his life. At around the same time, doctors noticed a remarkable improvement in his brain scans. Against all their expectations Andrew made an unusually quick and almost total recovery. But his life now has taken a totally different direction. PLUS: Queen of the Road Carlotta was the first and the best Queen of the Desert. Leading lady of the infamous revue Les Girls, Carlotta honed her skills in the bars and clubs of Kings Cross. While admitting she may have stayed too long in Sydney, today, Carlotta can be found taking her troupe across Australia. Australian Story catches up with Carlotta and her colourful retinue on their way to outback Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.

Tara Smith is a young professional woman who became pregnant, unexpectedly, four years ago. She knew she wasn't in a position to raise the baby but she couldn't quite bring herself to undergo an abortion.

Cold Wind in August centres on the baffling death of 15 year old Sydney schoolboy Eric Wilson in 1997.

The story of Maria Bordoni, a diminutive former hairdresser who, at the age of thirty-six, became first female governor of maximum security men's prison - South Australia's Yatala Jail.

Katie Spurr, who lives with her family just west of Brisbane, was diagnosed with cancer on Xmas Eve 1997.

Actor Tom Burlinson introduces the story of the search for the "real" "Man from Snowy River", the poem which has become our best known and best loved piece of literature.

Two years ago Lance Corporal Gerry Bampton was on board one of the Black Hawk helicopters which collided and crashed during a night counter terrorism exercise near Townsville.

The story of Barry Cable, AFL's legendary "Little Master", who nearly died in a tractor accident but overcame terrible injuries to write himself into another set of record books.

Steve Roach's brand of unionism seemed to be an anachronism, steeped in the history of the bush and the great shearers strike of 1891. But when 1500 wharfies found themselves out of a job Steve Roach found himself back in step.

Joe Bugner is one of the last survivors from the great days of boxing, when Muhammad Ali was King and Bugner was one of the few men to go the distance with him.

The story of a man, estranged from his tycoon father, who had the drive and talent to build an empire of his own but who, in the last few years, has managed to lose everything including his good name.

Colin Reynolds is an "ordinary" Sydney bus driver who has been on an extraordinary journey for the last few years.

Former New South Wales Premier, Nick Greiner introduces the story of former Queensland Premier, Wayne Goss, who has decided to "give the game away" after undergoing surgery for a brain tumour last year.

Dr. Kerryn Phelps, the high profile medical practitioner whose relationship with her partner was recently "outed" by the tabloid press. Dr. Phelps recently married her partner in a private ceremony in the United States.

On November 19, 1941 the HMAS Sydney, sank somewhere off the West Australian coast. She had been engaged in battle with the German raider, Kormoran, which had been disguised as a Dutch merchant vessel.

Terry Walker was in trouble with the law by the time he was nineteen and soon progressed to armed robbery, drug pushing and running brothels. He was in and out of jail and hooked on heroin. But one day something happened.

Hazel Hawke introduces this story about a woman who, has become "the most hated woman in Queensland" because of her conversion to the aboriginal native title cause.

Selling the family farm has become a familiar tale in rural Australia, one which is very close to home for Sydney journalist Sally Loane.

The story of the embattled Melbourne waterfront.

The story of the famous McPherson family.