

ABC Rewind
ABC
The History Listen is now ABC Rewind, the home of gripping narrative history series. Dive into true stories told by the people who lived through them.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 7, 2025 • 34min
02 Ray Denning - the stitch up
The story of one of Australia's most misunderstood criminals. With nothing to lose, Raymond Denning escapes Grafton prison in a rubbish bin. He has help from prisoner rights groups, and a desire to expose police corruption. The man-hunt for Denning turns farcical when he uses the media to make the police look foolish.

May 31, 2025 • 28min
01 Ray Denning - breaking out
The story of one of Australia's most misunderstood criminals. After a traumatic childhood, Raymond Denning jumps from 'juvie' to jail. When an escape attempt goes wrong, a prison warder is critically injured and the finger is pointed at Denning.

May 24, 2025 • 29min
03 | Dusted - the human cost of mining in Australia
Asbestos was once known as the wonder mineral. It's now banned in Australia. But before that happened, companies kept making asbestos products despite growing evidence of its deadly dust and a mounting death toll.

May 17, 2025 • 29min
02| Dusted - the human cost of mining in Australia
When a vast coal seam was found running through the escarpment around the NSW town of Wollongong it seemed that this beautiful part of Australia had got lucky. But had it? Van Badham heads back to her hometown to explore the deadly cost of coal mining for those who worked the pit.

May 10, 2025 • 29min
01| Dusted - the human cost of mining in Australia
The podcast dives into the human cost of mining in Australia, revealing grim tales from Bendigo's gold mining roots. It uncovers the tragic impact of silica dust on miners, sharing heartbreaking personal stories and historical negligence in safety. The challenging living conditions and unfair wages faced by miners are highlighted, as well as the ongoing struggle for better health protections. Listeners hear how past mistakes continue to resonate today, emphasizing the urgent need for reform in an industry steeped in both wealth and tragedy.

May 3, 2025 • 29min
04 Where the bloody hell were you! When the tobacco ads came down
It's the early 1970s and the power of good is unleashed. In the Age of Aquarius the public get wise to being hoodwinked by advertising. Health campaigners hijack the medium — and turn it to their advantage.

Apr 26, 2025 • 28min
03 Where the bloody hell were you! When TV marketing went mad
The hunt is on for the winning TV ad — the one that keeps the client happy and the consumers consuming. What's the right method for making the perfect advertisement? In 1970 a young bloke called John Singleton thought he had the answer.Host Dee Madigan continues her adventures through the vaults of Australian advertising.

Apr 19, 2025 • 29min
02 Where the bloody hell were you! The jingle reigns supreme
It’s the 1970s and we're entering Australia's golden age of advertising. The Aussie larrikin makes his TV appearance and liquid lunches get longer. Salaries get bigger and the egos to match them.Join host Dee Madigan as she digs through the history of advertising in Australia.

Apr 12, 2025 • 29min
01 Where the bloody hell were you! Television comes to Australia
Join host Dee Madigan for a wild ride through the golden days of Australian advertising. When TV arrived in Australia in 1956, it brought American ad agencies, international sophistication and the rise of the cultural cringe.

Apr 6, 2025 • 0sec
07 Conspiracy? We're still feeling it
In this bonus episode Jan Fran and historian Dr Geraldine Fela discuss how the waterfront dispute has shaped the way we work in Australia today. 27 years later work is more precarious – casual and fixed term jobs have grown, the kind of work we do has changed and employers now have more power over employees. Politics and industrial relations were also changed by the dispute and unions have learned to fight in a very different way.


