

In Black and White
Herald Sun
From alleyway gangsters to cold war spies to eccentric entrepreneurs, Australian history is full of colourful but forgotten characters. Host Jen Kelly talks with experts, historians and yarn spinners to uncover the untold stories of some of our most interesting and offbeat ancestors.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 23, 2022 • 34min
Explorer Bill's ugly fish
In Australia's age of expeditions, William Blandowski catalogued the lands around the Murray. But his adventures in the bush paled in comparison with the war he had with the scientific establishment - a war he fought with fish.State Library Victoria librarian Andrew McConville tells the tale.Like the show? Read more at https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 16, 2022 • 27min
The royal couple’s disaster-plagued visit
When the future king and his wife visited Australia in 1927 to open Parliament House, the trip was marred by a bizarre string of RAAF air tragedies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 9, 2022 • 48min
The red atom bomb boy
At the start of the Cold War, a young Australian scientist found himself caught up in the geopolitics of who could be trusted with nuclear secrets.Find out more about Phillip Deery's book at: https://www.mup.com.au/books/spies-and-sparrows-paperback-softbackSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 2, 2022 • 46min
Masks of the dead
Macabre entrepreneur Maximilian Kreitmayer found himself a special niche in the Melbourne of the late 1800s: using the faces of dead bushrangers to fill his waxworks' Chamber of Horrors. Old Melbourne Gaol tour guide Aurora Llywelyn joins to tell more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 26, 2022 • 34min
The littlest hero of the pacific war
After a patrol of diggers were pinned down by enemy fire in Papua New Guinea, it was up to a pigeon named Q to send for help. Its tale is told by author Mark Wilson, whose book Flapper VC, aims to introduce the courageous creature to kids who may never have heard of Australia's history at war. Find out more about the book at: https://marklwilson.com.au/product/flapper-vc/Get more great tales of Australian history at: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/in-black-and-whiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 19, 2022 • 1h 4min
Best of In Black And White - Episode 4 - Amazing Women in History
This summer, we have put together a four part series of some of our most engaging episodes so far, and the final episode looks at amazing women in history. You will hear about Eliza Batman, the wireless pioneer Violet McKenzie, and a revolutionary all female garage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 12, 2022 • 2h 11min
Best of In Black And White - Episode 3 - War Heroes
This summer, we have put together a four part series of some of our most engaging episodes so far, and the third episode looks at war heroes. You will hear the story of Sister Vivian Bullwinkel who was caught in one of the worst massacres of World War II, Horrie the War Dog, and the Aussie pilot who saved stricken kids after a U-Boat attack.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 5, 2022 • 2h 3min
Best of In Black And White - Episode 2 - Serial Killers
This summer, we have put together a four part series of some of our favourite episodes so far, and the second episode looks at serial killers. You will hear about The Brownout Strangler, the Schoolgirl Strangler who terrorised Melbourne and Frederick Deeming who many say could have been Jack the Ripper.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 29, 2021 • 1h 27min
Best of In Black And White - Episode 1 - Spies
We have put together a four part series of some of our favourite episodes so far, and the first episode looks at spies. You will first hear about Nancy Weir, a piano prodigy who wowed the crowd in the early years of Melbourne radio. Then, the story of the dramatic defection of two Soviet spies in Australia made worldwide headlines in 1954. And finally, the incredible story of ASIO spies Dudley and Joan Doherty, who enlisted their three young kids in Australia’s battle against Soviet infiltration during the Cold War.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 22, 2021 • 26min
Smoke and mirrors: From fraud to high flyer
Between burning a seance client to death and shooting a clergyman while drunk, no-one thought Thomas Walker would make much of himself. But they were wrong. Author David Hunt joins the show with more. More information about David at: https://davidhuntwriter.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


