Secrets We Keep

The end of the world is coming for members of a Geelong Church. It’s been looming for over 50 years. And only the chosen few will be saved. 

Follow investigative journalist Richard Baker as he returns to his home town to investigate one of Australia’s most hardline Pentecostal churches and the man who led it. 

This series goes deep inside the secretive group and the disturbing doctrine of Pastor Noel Hollins.  

Richard Baker has received hundreds of hours of audio recordings that reveal the inner teachings of the doomsday group. He speaks to ex-members who have managed to escape, many who are sharing their stories for the first time. 

They speak of a brutal place where men must be obeyed, children must be punished and the solution to every problem is to pray harder. 

This special LiSTNR nine part investigation uncovers how an Australian church, with charity status, has impacted the lives of vulnerable people for generations - without repercussions. 

Until now.   

Listen to the full series now on LiSTNR https://play.listnr.com/podcast/secrets-we-keep

Episode 1 available everywhere December 1.

The interviews in this series were recorded during Pastor Noel Hollins leadership of the Geelong Revival Centre. During production, Pastor Noel died. The experiences and allegations raised do not relate to the current leadership of the GRC

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In December 2005, Richard Baker published a story about an obscure oil company called Tigris Petroleum, and its ties to Iraq. A few weeks later, Tigris would be linked to the AWB at the Cole inquiry. In this bonus episode, Richard revisits the story, and finally gets some key documents about Tigris released. 

Featured:

• Michael Long
• Alexander Downer
• Ross Fusca

Contact: [email protected] 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Richard Baker interviews former Prime Minister John Howard, to find out why Australia went into the Iraq War, and ask how much his government knew about the AWB’s dealings.  

Featured:

• John Howard
• Caroline Overington 
• Alexander Downer
• Trevor Flugge

Contact: [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cole inquiry recommends the AWB be investigated, and the Australian Federal Police set up a taskforce. Richard Baker speaks to former AFP officer Ross Fusca and finds out the taskforce mysteriously disappeared. The corporate regulator, ASIC, also attempts to hold the wheat men to account. 

Featured:

• Darryl Hockey
• Ross Fusca
• Michael Long
• Trevor Flugge
• Rod McLeod (voicing Mark Emons) 
• Dan Mullins (voicing lawyer)

Contact: [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Trevor Flugge and Michael Long’s turn in the witness box, though it couldn’t have come at a worse time. The media is fixated on photos of the pair in Baghdad holding guns, looking like cavalier cowboys. But they won’t be the only powerful men called to give evidence.  

Featured:

• Trevor Flugge
• Michael Long
• Nonee Walsh
• Kelvin Thomson
• Alexander Downer
• Darryl Hockey

Contact: [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian government announces an inquiry into the AWB, with the lawyers hoping to prove the AWB knew it was breaching sanctions. A whistleblower fronts the inquiry to give evidence... in secret. 

Featured:

• Trevor Flugge
• Darryl Hockey
• Michael Long
• Anwar Al-Rawi
• Rod McLeod (voicing Mark Emons) 
• Dan Mullins (voicing lawyer)

Contact: [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Saddam Hussein has been found, weapons of mass destruction have not. The reason for the Iraq invasion crumbles, and the world’s attention is turned to corruption in the United Nations Oil For Food Program. The AWB’s dealings in Iraq are about to come under scrutiny from an international investigation. 

Featured:

• Darryl Hockey
• Alexander Downer
• Caroline Overington 
• Mark Pieth 

Contact: [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US invades Iraq, and good old Australia has joined. The Australian wheat men are on the ground a month later, and the secret mission begins – protect Australia’s lucrative wheat market. 

Featured:

• Robin Raphel 
• Trevor Flugge
• Michael Long
• Lieutenant Colonel Paul Wright
• Alexander Downer
• Alan Tracy

Contact: [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The drums of war are beating, and the Australian Wheat Board’s multimillion-dollar trade with Iraq is at risk. Lucky for them, powerful sources promise to keep the AWB informed of any signs of war, while the public hears something different.  

Featured:

• Trevor Flugge
• Darryl Hockey
• Alexander Downer
• Anwar Al-Rawi
• Michael Long

Contact: [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did the Australian Wheat Board (AWB) fund Saddam Hussein’s regime? Richard Baker speaks with Michael Long and Trevor Flugge from the Australian Wheat Board (AWB) to find out how Australia built a strong trade relationship with Iraq.

Featured:

• Anwar Al-Rawi
• Maitham Al-alyawy
• Michael Long
• Trevor Flugge

Get in contact: [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.