As abortionists operated in the shadows of early Melbourne society, little is known about their illegal and often-deadly practices - with one notable exception.
Nurse-turned-abortionist Elizabeth Downey’ faced an astonishing 14 murder trials in 14 years, beating the charges time after time. And it was her patients themselves that helped keep her one step ahead of the law.
Margaret Anderson, director of the Old Treasury Building, joins the show to tell the harrowing tale.
Like the show? Get features, backgrounds and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibaw See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A desperate code of silence

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. 

History

Society & Culture

Running away to join the circus has been the quixotic goal of many the bored teenager. But by the time Mabel Worley took that path, her life was anything but ordinary. Corinne Ball, senior curator at the History Trust of South Australia, joins the show to tell the tale.

More about Corinne's book at:
https://scholarly.info/book/three-ring-circus/

Like the show? Get features and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibaw See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A high-wire act for poor Mabel Worley part 2.

A high-wire act for poor Mabel Worley part 1.

Redmond Barry is best known for sending Ned Kelly to the gallows. But he never would have sat in judgement if it wasn't for some poor judgement of his own.
State Library Victoria librarian Andrew McConville joins the show to tell the tale of Barry's torrid love affair at sea, and how it changed the young lawyer's life.

Like the show? Read more at heraldsun.com.au/ibaw See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The hanging judge's Plan B

WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT. When George Augustus Robinson was employed as the Chief Protector of Tasmania's Aboriginal people, he proclaimed he was there to 'do good' for the indigenous population. Instead, he took from the very people who had already had everything taken from them. Cassandra Pybus joins the show with more.
Note: This episode contains graphic descriptions relating to the deaths of indigenous people.
Learn more about Pybus's book, A Very Secret Trade: The dark story of gentlemen collectors in Tasmania, at https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/9781761066344 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A macabre act of betrayal

He was dubbed the most unpopular AIF commander of World War I, thanks to a series of bungles and mismanagement. But was James McCay mad, bad, or just another hapless officer caught in the slaughter of the trenches? Military historian Mat McLachlan joins the show to discuss.

More on Mat's work at: https://battlefields.com.au/
Like the show? Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A desperate code of silence

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