Childers

By Paul Cochrane

What's Childers about?

The Full Story of the Palace Backpackers Hostel Fire of June 2000 Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/childers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Childers episodes:

07.09.2020
22 - Farewell
Immediately after the fire, the Childers community embraced the backpackers as their own. It made the task of saying goodbye and returning to normality even more difficult. A simple thank you has never felt like enough. 20 years on, their...
07.07.2020
21 - Family
The fire at the Palace Backpackers Hostel in Childers on June 23, 2000 changed lives forever. It took young men and women way too soon and caused immeasurable trauma to those who escaped the building that night. They would return...
07.05.2020
20 - Neil
When Neil Griffith and his University friend Nigel decided to pack up their life in late 1999 and head to Australia on the adventure of a lifetime, they were young, carefree fun-seekers with the world at their feet. But it...
07.02.2020
19 - Legislation
The Childers fire is considered the worst arson attack in Queensland history. The after effects were far-reaching with local businesses and the tourism industry taking both a financial and reputational hit. Solutions needed to be found and that started with...
06.30.2020
18 - Memorial
It took just two years and four months for the Palace to be re-opened following a full re-build on the site of the exisiting hostel. There was considerable consultation with the community and the victims' families before agreeing on what...
06.28.2020
17 - Window
In the months after the fire, Council commenced its plan to restore the Palace and bring about some normality for neighbouring businesses affected by the June 2000 tragedy. But striking a deal to acquire the building and establish a suitable...
06.25.2020
16 - Guilty
Immediately after they escaped the burning Palace, a number of backpackers reported their suspicions and identified the primary suspect to police. Authorities then set about piecing together a case to prove it was deliberately lit and build a murder case...
06.23.2020
15 - Krueger
The man who lit the Palace Backpackers Hostel was well known to police. He had an extensive criminal history across multiple states and had caused immeasurable trauma to a family who had invited him into their home. What happened in...
06.22.2020
14 - Man Hunt
The Childers community and surrounding towns were on edge. They feared for their safety as the man dubbed Australia's most wanted was on the loose for five days after the fire. During a violent apprehension, it took the bravery of...
06.18.2020
13 - Princess
The burden of a week of intense grief and trauma was weighing heavily on the survivors and the Childers community. The town needed a lift. It came in the form of the first Royal visit to the region in 25...
06.16.2020
12 - Rob
The strong Dutch contingent staying at the Palace brought a unique energy to the backpacker group. And in June 2000 they found a common bond through the love of their national football team. But the fire would tear the group...
06.14.2020
11 - James
Three days after the fire a highly emotional memorial service was held in the Community Centre. It featured the full suite of Government officials, but the focus was on the group of survivors, lead by James Whitehurst, who coined the...
06.11.2020
10 - Kim and Karl
On June 23, 2000, the Childers Backpacker Hostel fire was the biggest news story in the world. It would have a profound impact on the lives and careers of some of Australia's most prominent journalists. At the forefront, two rival...
06.09.2020
09 - Keith
Just two days before the fire, Keith O'Brien celebrated his 22nd birthday with guests of the Hostel. By week's end that same circle of friends would draw strength from each other as they mourned the loss of 15 young lives...
06.07.2020
08 - Mick
When it came to media spotlight, Childers was no shrinking violet, but it certainly wasn't overrun with regular requests. Nothing could prepare it for the avalanche of media that was about to quickly descend on the town though, led by...
06.04.2020
07 - Julie
Just three months before the Palace Backpackers Hostel fire, the O'Keeffe family, who were visiting from Ireland, met for dinner at a popular Sydney hotel. It was the night before their daughter Julie and her two travel companions were heading...
06.02.2020
06 - Bill
Childers was Bill Trevor's town and he led his community with pride and purpose. But his leadership would face its sternest test when the centrepiece of the main street - the Palace Backpackers Hostel - was set alight in an...
05.31.2020
05 - Tia
New Zealander Tia Pou had Childers in her travel plans and the Palace Backpackers Hostel was where she wanted to stay. And when she got there, it was everything she anticipated, until things took a sudden, unexpected twist. But what...
05.28.2020
04 - Jessica
It took Jessica Wiegand 8 months waitressing in a London restaurant to earn enough money to get her visa for Australia. And when she arrived it was everything she hoped for. Travel and sightseeing. She headed north to spend a...
05.28.2020
03 - Ken
As a young man, Ken Morris dreamed of packing up and leaving Wales to take up life in Australia. It didn't quite pan out that way. So when his youngest daughter Natalie and her friends set their sights on a...
05.28.2020
02 - Sarah
Sarah Mahoney headed to Childers seeking new adventures while she waited on the outcome of job and education prospects. She figured a few weeks picking on the local small crop farms and earning a few dollars would be valuable life...
05.28.2020
01 - Fire
It's just after midnight. June 23, 2000. Fire station officer in charge Curl Santacaterina is fast asleep when he's paged to attend a job a few streets away from his Childers home. His crew, which includes Hayden Whittaker, is about...
05.24.2020
Welcome to Childers
On June 23, 2000, the Palace Backpackers Hostel in Childers was set alight while its guests slept. It was the worst arson attack in Queensland history. The perpetrator, Robert Long, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on arson and...

What's Childers about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Childers episodes:

22 - Farewell

21 - Family

20 - Neil

19 - Legislation

18 - Memorial

17 - Window

16 - Guilty

15 - Krueger

14 - Man Hunt

13 - Princess

12 - Rob

11 - James

10 - Kim and Karl

09 - Keith

08 - Mick

07 - Julie

06 - Bill

05 - Tia

04 - Jessica

03 - Ken

02 - Sarah

01 - Fire

Welcome to Childers