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24.01.2022 Our latest podcast is out - an amazing and controversial story. Plus we've included 'Grave of the Episode' - one of our faves! Thanks for listening in.

24.01.2022 Thank you to everyone who has had a listen to our podcast! We've just received this exciting badge 100,000 downloads.

24.01.2022 On this day 28 April (1867) police captured the bushranging gang, the Clarke Brothers. The gang was riding home from the races in Bega where there was a chance to knock-off a prized racehorse or winnings from a punter when they shot dead Constable Miles O’Grady, aged 25. Thomas and John Clarke were executed on twin gallows at Darlinghurst Gaol, Sydney. They were buried in unmarked graves in Rookwood Cemetery. Constable O’Grady is buried in Moruya Cemetery, NSW. From our ‘Grave Tales: True Crime Vol.1’ book.

24.01.2022 Our latest podcast is live... thanks for tuning in!

23.01.2022 Called Australia’s Titanic, on this day, 20 August (1857) the Dunbar ran aground at South Head, Sydney, and was smashed to pieces. Of the 122 onboard, one crewman survived. The bodies were so damaged by the rocks they could not be recognised. The survivor clung to the rocks for almost 2 days before being rescued. Oddly, the wife of the Signal Master dreamt he was there and woke three times begging her husband to rescue him. The mass grave with the anchor is in Camperdown Cemetery, NSW. From ‘Grave Tales: Sydney’.

23.01.2022 On ANZAC Day, 25 April (1935), punters paid their pennies to see a new attraction at the Coogee Aquarium Baths a large Tiger Shark caught by the proprietor, Bert Hobson (pictured with son, Ron). But when the shark regurgitated a human arm knotted with a rope at the wrist, it launched one of the most bizarre murder mysteries the nation has ever seen. From our ‘Grave Tales: Sydney Vol.1’ book.

22.01.2022 In the early 1800s, everyone thought there would be at least two states where Queensland is now, after all, it is seven times the size of Great Britain it just made sense. Thankful Willmett (yes, that is his real name) led the struggle for a new state in the north in the 1880s. As you know, it didn’t succeed, but Robbie Katter MP’s flying the flag for NQ. Thankful is buried in West End Cemetery, Townsville. His story is in our ‘Grave Tales: Bruce Highway’ volume. (Image: J.D. Lang. Map of the proposed seven united provinces of eastern Australia, 1857. Collection of the Fryer Library, University of Queensland).

22.01.2022 On this day (13 June) 1887, Ellen Thomson, mother of five, was hanged. She and her lover were convicted of murdering Ellen’s older husband and both sentenced to death. On the eve of her execution, her lover confessed that he alone did the crime but it was too late. Ellen is the only woman hanged in Qld’s history. Her name is on the memorial in South Brisbane Cemetery to all those hanged at Boggo Rd Jail. From our ‘Grave Tales: Brisbane Vol.1’ book.

21.01.2022 On this day, 13 July in 1901, one of the nation's most famous boxers, Peter Jackson, died. Peter could have been the world heavyweight champion but he was denied the chance to compete because he was black; American John L. Sullivan, also known as the Boston Strong Boy refused to fight him. Peter's grave is in Brisbane's Toowong Cemetery and was donated by public subscription. On it are Shakespeare's words: "This was a man". From our 'Grave Tales: Brisbane' book.

21.01.2022 On this day (9 June) 1918, 11-year-old Hector Vasyli and four of his friends met on the Victoria Bridge to welcome the returning WWI soldiers home. Tragically Hector was hit by one of the cars in the parade and killed. You will find a monument on the bridge remembering Hector and in 2013 the RSL Queensland Hellenic Sub Branch put a new bronze plaque on his grave in Toowong Cemetery. From our ‘Grave Tales: Brisbane Vol.1’ book.

20.01.2022 Here's Helen squinting in Tamrookum Cemetery, in the Scenic Rim. We're working on our next book 'Grave Tales: Scenic Rim Qld'. We've got 11 good 'yarns' so far, seven to go. If you know of a story, we'd love the tip... but here's the trap, they've got to be buried in the Scenic Rim. We're not called 'Grave Tales' for nothing! Scenic Rim Regional Council

19.01.2022 On this day 3 May (1942) the ‘Brownout Strangler’ claimed his first victim, Ivy McLeod, 40. A US soldier based in Melbourne, ‘over paid, oversexed and over here’ during WWII, Edward Leonski killed three innocent women because he ‘wanted their voices’. Ivy and Gladys Hosking, 40, rest in Fawkner Memorial Park; Pauline Thompson, 31, rests in Warringal Cemetery. Leonski, 24, was buried in Australia, but later unearthed and buried in Hawaii. The brownout was enforced to dim the lights of the city to prevent aerial bombing. It last for 18 months. From ‘Grave Tales; True Crime Vol.1’.

17.01.2022 On this day, 10 November (1905) sailor Jack Denham, 17, and six of his shipmates died when the 'La Bella' ran aground near the jetty at Warrnambool, Victoria. For hours in the freezing cold, residents watched from the shore, helpless. The local lifeboat crew did their best and a daring rescue effort was launched by local sailor, William Ferrier (pictured). Thanks to our readers we were able to give Jack a headstone after 115 years; he rests in Warrnambool Cemetery see the pics on our website, including meeting William’s grandsons. From our ‘Grave Tales: Great Ocean Road’ book.

16.01.2022 We were honoured to write the story of Holocaust survivor, Leo Rosner and to talk with Leo and Helen's daughter, Anna Rosner Blay on our podcast. Leo and his wife Helen were saved by Oscar Schindler. In time, they had two daughters, Anna and Frances. We wanted to share with you this beautiful photo of Leo's great-grandson, Jonah and his mother, Jess (daughter of Frances and grand-daughter of Leo and Helen) reading Leo's story in 'Grave Tales: Melbourne'. It's so wonderful that young Jonah was asking questions about his great-grandfather and keeping history alive. Our thanks to Anna and Frances for sharing.

14.01.2022 On this day 26 August (1894), William (Billy) McLean, 26 of Koroit, took a bullet through the lung during the Shearer’s Strike. Billy was imprisoned in Goulburn Gaol where the coldness led to him developing tuberculosis. Due to his illness he was liberated but was not long home before he died. His union members and friends raised money to build his monument in Cemetery, Tower Hill, Victoria, Australia. Note the broken column to symbolise a life cut short or someone who died in the prime of life. From ‘Grave Tales: Great Ocean Road’.

13.01.2022 On this day, 23 August (1948), Jose Paronella, the founder of the gardens and reception centre that carries his name in Far North Qld, died, aged 61. Hard work brought his dream to life; and with his wife Margarita, Paronella Park was built in a Spanish castle style with swimming areas for visitors. José’s and Margarita’s graves are in Innisfail Cemetery (a marker is on-site) but the headstones were moved to Paronella Park. From our ‘Grave Tales: Bruce Highway’ volume.

13.01.2022 On this day, 14 November (1932) a life changed! Arthur Stace ‘Mr Eternity’ heard a Baptist evangelist, John Ridley, talk about eternity. Arthur decided to write the word in chalk on the streets of Sydney. He estimated he did it half a million times. He is buried at Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, Matraville, NSW. From our ‘Grave Tales: Sydney Vol.1’ book.

13.01.2022 On this day, 30 July (1960) Walter Lindrum died the man they called the ‘Bradman of billiards’. The most remarkable billiards player to grace the table. He made the sport a household name and he was so good they changed the rules to try and beat him, but he still won. Check out his unique grave in Melbourne General Cemetery. He was 61. From our ‘Grave Tales: Melbourne’ book.

12.01.2022 Thanks to Brenda (an avid reader and supporter of Aussie authors) for the great review!

09.01.2022 Out now, our latest podcast: the plague comes to Australia. Sudden deaths from a plague caused panic in Sydney involving quarantining, demolitions and disinfecting. The year was 1900 and the nervousness will feel very familiar today. (Pic: circa Jul 1900. NRS 12487, State Records Authority of NSW). Listen in: https://gravetales.podbean.com/e/the-plague-comes-to-austr/

08.01.2022 On this day 8 August (1859), Sgt George Dodds, 47, of the Port Fairy Victoria Police died from his injuries - an abdomen stab wound received less than a year, earlier inflicted by John Rutledge while resisting arrest. The Rutledge name is well known in Port Fairy, Victoria as three brothers contributed to the town's early history. George is buried in Port Fairy Cemetery (inset) but this park near the beach is named in his honour. From our 'Grave Tales: Great Ocean Road' book. Incidentally, John's brother, Lloyd's grave was the subject of an investigation by the Aust Ghost Research International organisation.

07.01.2022 Also on this day 13 July in 1944, the funeral of Linda Agostini took place the 'Pyjama Girl'. But does Linda, who was murdered by her husband and dumped by a country road, really lie in this humble grave marked with a simple white cross in Melbourne’s Preston cemetery (The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust)? Not everyone thinks so. From our ‘Grave Tales: True Crime’ volume.

06.01.2022 On this day, 29 April (1966) the Moomba Festival Queen, (Gabrielle) Erica McMillan, crowned only eight weeks before, was tragically killed in the car she won as part of her prize a Ford Cortina. She had driven to Geelong to help out her boyfriend whose car had broken down, when they were involved in an accident and Erica, 19, died. Her boyfriend survived. A beautiful flame extinguished too soon. Erica is buried in Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Victoria. From our ‘Grave Tales: Melbourne Vol.1’ book. Photo: City of Arts & Heritage, Melbourne.

05.01.2022 On this day, 25 July (1875) Eugenia Falleni was born and so began a tragic life. Eugenia identified as Harry Crawford, and married Annie. Annie didn’t know Harry was in fact Eugenia a woman. And so began the case that intrigued the nation after Annie disappeared and Eugenia was charged with her murder but that didn’t stop Eugenia marrying again and to another woman. A sad and tragic story that was not so unimaginable in a more modest world. From our ‘Grave Tales: True Crime’ volume.

05.01.2022 Out now, our next podcast episode 'Girl Torque - the untimely death of Alice Anderson'. We spoke with the lady who knows Alice better than anyone, Loretta Smith author and owner of Facebook page Alice Anderson Garage Girl. (Photo courtesy of Loretta Smith). Listen here or wherever you listen to your podcasts: https://gravetales.podbean.com/e/girl-torque-the-untimely-/

05.01.2022 On this day, 23 July (1916) the WWI Battle of Pozières began. A North Qld soldier and stretcher-bearer Henry Buchanan used his water bottle to bluff 18 armed German soldiers into surrendering when he discovered them in a trench while he was looking for wounded Aussies. An amazing tale from our ‘Grave Tales: Bruce Highway’ volume. (Images: Sgt. Henry Buchanan MM - 9th Infantry Battalion. Photo kindly supplied by great-nephew, Damon Bickle; Aust stretcher-bearers photo from Australian War Memorial). RSL Queensland

04.01.2022 We remember clever, attractive and ambitious, Betty Shanks, aged 22, who was murdered on this day, 9 September (1952), on her way home from an evening lecture in industrial psychology. She was discovered the next morning in the front yard of a house not far from her own home. Sadly, justice was not done; to this day, Betty’s killer remains at large. Betty rests in Mt Thompson Memorial Park, Holland Park, Brisbane. From ‘Grave Tales: True Crime’.

03.01.2022 LIVE NOW: out latest podcast the Holocaust survivor saved by Oscar Schindler this is the story of Leo Rosner, a talented Jewish musician who made a post-war life in Melbourne. We remember him and speak with his daughter, Anna Rosner Blay you can tune in here: https://gravetales.podbean.com/. (Also, Anna's book, 'Sister, Sister', about her mother, Helen's life during the Holocaust available here - https://www.hybridpublishers.com.au/product/sister-sister/).

02.01.2022 On this day, 21 October (1922), the Goanna Oil man Joseph Marconi, 46 died in Brisbane. He had founded the iconic Goanna Oil company but was killed when he was knocked to the ground with one punch and hit his head during an altercation outside a Brisbane pub. The impressive Marconi family grave is in Balmoral Cemetery, Brisbane. From our ‘Grave Tales: Brisbane Vol. 1’ book.

01.01.2022 What happened to Mollie? On this day 11 August (1942) Maryborough’s Mollie Thompson, 24, left her home at 3am by foot, only to be found 10 days later drowned in the town’s water tower. The coroner ruled Mollie’s death as suicide but how did she get into the 16-meter-high water tower? A sad tale and an unsolved mystery from ‘Grave Tales: Bruce Highway’ and on our podcast. Mollie is buried in Maryborough Cemetery. (Friends of the Maryborough Cemetery)

01.01.2022 On this day, 7 September (1943) middleweight champion boxer and Olympic prospect Captain Charles ‘Jack’ Miles, aged 30, was killed along with 12 of his squadron when the Catalina seaplane he was flying crashed on landing in Cleveland Bay, Townsville. Jack is buried in the Townsville War Cemetery. A memorial on the Strand remembers the men; it permanently looks out to sea. From our ‘Grave Tales: Bruce Highway’ volume. (Photos courtesy of the O’Brien Family and Peter Dunn OAM - ozatwar.com)