Australian Story

For more than 50 years, the name most associated with the Sydney Opera House has been Jorn Utzon, the Danish architect whose unconventional 'shell' design is internationally renowned. But few people have heard of Peter Hall, the Australian architect who completed the Opera House after Utzon's resignation. Hall designed the interiors for the building but was ostracised by the architectural community for agreeing to take on what many architects saw as a job for only Utzon. Peter Hall died in 1995, a broken man. Now his son, Willy Hall, wants his father to be recognised for the role he played. And Jorn Utzon's son, Jan Utzon, says both architects should be 'put on a pedestal' for their contributions to the building, which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.

When Coffs Harbour handyman and avid surfer Andrew Witton left Australia in 2006 it was supposed to be the trip of the lifetime. His plan was to sail across the South Pacific, visit friends in South America and then make his way to the World Series Cricket in the Caribbean. Instead he vanished inexplicably from the deck of his beloved yacht Kaileia in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean. His final log entry on the day he disappeared described conditions as 'sunny' and the sea as 'calm'. The circumstances of his disappearance and the actions of his only crew mate Simon Golding have long troubled and mystified Andrew Witton's family and friends. In this program they speak for the first time of compelling evidence about what happened that day and reveal important new information that casts doubt on Simon Golding's version of events. The program also includes an exclusive interview with Simon Golding, recorded before he was imprisoned over a separate matter for his part in a major trans-Pacific cocaine importation syndicate.

This week's program returns to the remarkable story of Barry 'Nugget' Rees, who for more than five decades has been revered and nurtured by Australia's cricketing elite. Nugget rose from the most unlikely circumstances to become the trusted confidante and companion of cricket's biggest names, led by every Australian captain from Barry Jarman to the Chappell brothers, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke through to the current team under Steve Smith and David Warner. He has toured at least once a year with the Australian and South Australian teams, wearing the team's uniform and standing for the National Anthem alongside the captain. Now in his 70s, Nugget has been there on the inside for many of the greatest moments in Australian cricketing history. He's also been there to help at the most tragic of times. When much-loved team-mate Phillip Hughes was killed in a cricket accident 15 months ago, coach Darren Lehmann immediately called on Nugget to assist with the team's healing. Adam Gilchrist says bringing Nugget on board at this time was a 'masterstroke'. Now, coach Darren Lehmann is leading a push to have a spectator stand at Adelaide Oval named after Barry 'Nugget' Rees in honour of his contribution to both AFL and cricket.

International rugby union star David Pocock and his partner Emma take Australian Story back to his homeland Zimbabwe where, as a child, dramatic events shaped the passion that drives him both on and off the field. At 27, David Pocock made headlines around the world for his stand-out performances with the Wallabies during the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He's just as widely known for his commitment to effecting social and environmental change in Australia and Africa. It's now fifteen years since the Pococks fled their farm in Zimbabwe. That trauma has left a lasting impact on them all. In this television exclusive, David Pocock and his family share their rich archive of home movies, and speak candidly about their journey to become Australians.

International rugby union star David Pocock is no ordinary sportsman. At 27, he made headlines around the world for his stand-out performances with the Wallabies during the 2015 Rugby World Cup. But David Pocock's road to success has not been easy. Through sport and an obsessive determination, he overcame teenage emotional trauma after fleeing from Zimbabwe 15 years ago. Later, major injuries threatened to end his rugby career, had he not fought just as obsessively to overcome every setback. Now he's directing his passion to social and environmental change in Australia and Africa – and is prepared to risk his rugby career for what he believes in. In the concluding episode of this television exclusive, David Pocock, his partner Emma and his family reveal the inside story of one of Australia's most remarkable contemporary sports stars.

When Dr Rodney Syme was unable to alleviate the unbearable pain suffered by a cancer patient many years ago, it triggered what he calls his "epiphany". "I could hear her screaming, as I entered the foyer of the hospital," he says, "and there was nothing we could do to relieve her agony. That had the most profound effect on me." For more than two decades Dr Syme has campaigned to legalise voluntary euthanasia for the terminally ill. He also continues to counsel and help people, like former corporate boss Bernard who has tongue and lung cancer, and has recently planned his own funeral and hosted his own living wake. It's an issue that polarises the medical community. "I think in the euthanasia debate everyone's searching for a line beyond which we can all agree that someone's life is not worth living and I think that line is always arbitrary and it's not a line, it's a cliff," says physician Dr Karen Hitchcock. But at 80 years of age, Dr Syme believes time is running out to achieve his goal of changing the law and he's decided to risk all, even if it means going to prison.

Advertising executive Aminah Hart always wanted to be a mother, but no one expected the back-to-front romance that made it happen. After losing two babies to a rare genetic disorder, she turned to IVF and an anonymous sperm donation, and gave birth to a healthy baby girl named Leila. But it was when Aminah later met the donor, farmer Scott Andersen, that the real fairytale began. When Aminah's story was first aired on Australian Story it made headlines around the world. Now, she and Scott have married, a publisher has come on board and there's the possibility of a movie. This is the story that started it all.

Model agent Chelsea Bonner is on a mission, and it's ambitious. She wants to change the way we think of beauty and body image. While Australian women are getting bigger, the female image presented in the media remains stubbornly the same: tall, thin and a size 8. To promote change, Chelsea set up a modelling agency 15 years ago specialising in larger models. But she's had to battle for acceptance and respect. It's an unlikely crusade for a girl whose parents were the glamour couple of their day. Chelsea's mother Nola was a top model and her father Tony Bonner was a famous actor and heartthrob. In this program Chelsea reveals the pain of feeling like an outsider in the industry she grew up in, and why she's determined to change it.

When Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews asked Fiona Richardson MP to be Australia's first Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, he had no idea of her troubled family history. Now, with the State's Royal Commission Into Family Violence about to deliver its findings, the minister responsible for implementing changes has decided to speak out about a long-held secret. Fiona Richardson and her two brothers were born in Tanzania. This exclusive Australian Story follows the Richardsons back to Dar es Salaam as they explore their family history, in an attempt to understand enduring scars.

Paul White or 'Whitey' to his mates is an unstoppable force, He's the bush copper turned CEO of the Brisbane Broncos, one of Australia's most successful sporting clubs. But that unstoppable force has come up against an immoveable object - a diagnosis of a brain tumour that has rocked his family, his friends and his club. Australian Story has followed Paul through months of harsh medical treatment. Still training every day, this is a man who has turned 'soldiering on' into an extreme sport and with a determination to look misfortune in the eye with a steely gaze and a ready laugh.

On 28th April 1996, more than 500 tourists were visiting the historic site of Port Arthur in Tasmania. At lunchtime, a lone gunman armed with three military rifles and over 400 rounds of ammunition opened fire. By the time the gunman was captured 35 people had died, 23 were injured and countless other lives were changed forever. Galvanised by that shocking event, then Prime Minister John Howard convinced the states to introduce strict uniform gun control. Twenty years on, Australian Story looks back at the legacy of that terrible day - the impact it had on survivors, witnesses, some of whom are talking for the first time, and the nation at large.

For the first time on TV Michelle Bridges and her family talk about her becoming a mum at 45, her relationship with 'Commando' Steve Willis and taking on the junk food industry. The program traces Bridges' remarkable journey as the daughter of a broken home in working class Newcastle who last year was named on the BRW list of Australia's richest self-made women. She's described as one of Australia's most influential health and fitness experts. In a new relationship with her "Biggest Loser" co-star, Steve Willis, the couple have been fodder for gossip columnists and paparazzi and now have a 4-month old son, Axel. Bridges says having Axel has strengthened her ambition to tackle the junk food and sugar industries. "The truth of the matter is they sell crap food and make people sick and that makes me angry."

Ten years ago, Nicola and Jim Walker received the news that every parent dreads. Their two-year-old daughter Abby was diagnosed with leukaemia, a life-threatening illness. Abby's parents hit upon a controversial course of action - to have another child and harvest stem cells from the new baby's umbilical cord in case Abby relapsed and needed a transplant. They invited Australian Story to film with them as they embarked on this solution, providing intimate access to a deeply moving family experience. In this Australian Story update, we revisit the Walker family to find out the consequences of their decision.

As one of Australia's first Indigenous doctors Mark Wenitong combines his skills as a physician and a musician to fight ill health in Far North Queensland, including a looming Ice epidemic. His greatest role model was his mother Lealon who in the 1950s and '60s fought against the odds to become a pioneering Indigenous health worker. Despite his dedication to his medical work, Mark Wenitong describes himself as primarily a musician, a talent he has passed on to all his children. Daughter Naomi rose to prominence as half of successful duo Shakaya while eldest son Joel is also a successful musician. But a terrible car crash plunged the family into crisis. Naomi nearly died and the trauma for Joel, who'd been driving, led him to follow in his father's footsteps and become a doctor. Australian Story follows the Wenitongs as they continue to work in music and medicine within both the Indigenous and wider community.

Twelve years ago Danielle Tindle came back from the brink of death to survive Hodgkin's Lymphoma. By extraordinary coincidence, it was her own father's groundbreaking stem-cell research which ultimately saved his daughter's life. Since Danielle was given a second chance at life, this inspirational young woman has made it her mission to advocate for improved services and care for other adolescent and young adult cancer patients. She's become a world leader in the field. Unfortunately, mid-way through her PhD, she received another devastating diagnosis. With all conventional therapies ineffective, once again Danielle, her father and her medical team are in a race to find the next life-saving breakthrough. While Danielle will never give up hope of beating her rare cancer, can she beat the bureaucracy which means she pays nearly $5000 a shot for the treatment she needs, while a melanoma patient pays just over $6 a shot for the same drugs? Australian Story has followed Danielle's journey from the beginning.

George Palmer is one of the most intriguing figures in Australian music. During a 35-year-career as a barrister and later a Supreme Court judge, he harboured a private passion as a composer. But the music he wrote was never performed or recorded until finally, in 2004, he released an album of orchestral work, which was also performed at a concert in Sydney’s Eugene Goosens Hall. After the success of this project, he was commissioned to write more music including the mass for Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Australia in 2008. Now George Palmer has quit the law to concentrate on a new challenge – an operatic version of Tim Winton’s renowned novel Cloudstreet.

This compelling two-part program gives a powerful insight into one of the most controversial cases in Australian military history. At the centre of the story is Dave, a highly skilled commando in the Army Reserve. In February 2009, whilst on a capture-or-kill mission looking for Taliban, his unit raided a family compound in the middle of the night in Afghanistan. Six people, including five children, were killed. For the first time, Dave and other members of the unit give their account of the night and its aftermath. Dave and another soldier were subsequently charged with manslaughter of the five children and faced the possibility of a court martial and 20 years in prison. These charges were later dismissed. Since then, details of the operation have been shrouded in secrecy. What happened has been a tragedy for everyone – for Dave, his fellow commandos and, most of all, for the Afghan families who lost so much.

This week we continue our compelling two-part program giving a powerful insight into one of the most controversial cases in Australian military history. At the centre of the story is Dave, a highly skilled commando in the Army Reserve. In February 2009, whilst on a capture-or-kill mission looking for Taliban, his unit raided a family compound in the middle of the night in Afghanistan. Six people, including five children, were killed. For the first time, Dave and other members of the unit give their account of the night and its aftermath. Dave and another soldier were subsequently charged with manslaughter of the five children and faced the possibility of a court martial and 20 years in prison. These charges were later dismissed. Since then, details of the operation have been shrouded in secrecy. What happened has been a tragedy for everyone - for Dave, his fellow commandos and, most of all, for the Afghan families who lost so much.

Award-winning Australian Story celebrates 20 years on air with a two-part anniversary special that revisits memorable moments and reveals the untold stories behind them. In more than 800 stories, Australians have shared their lives with the program, providing intimate insights into the complexity and richness of the human experience. Some have been famous and others are people facing extraordinary challenges. They have all held up a mirror to the nation, documenting its shifting moods and changing face. So get ready to take a nostalgic and entertaining look back at the stories that have made us laugh, question and cry, at those that have moved and changed us, and at those that have shaped our society and helped us to know ourselves and each other better.

Award-winning Australian Story celebrates 20 years on air with a two-part anniversary special that revisits memorable moments and reveals the untold stories behind them. In more than 800 stories, Australians have shared their lives with the program, providing intimate insights into the complexity and richness of the human experience. Some are famous and others are people facing extraordinary challenges. They have all held up a mirror to the nation, documenting its shifting moods and changing face. In this final anniversary episode, we look back on some of the powerful stories about crime, sport, politics and the changing nature of families.

The news that a homeless man had been stabbed to death in early 2014 shocked Melbourne. In the days that followed, people flocked to the CBD, giving food and blankets to those in need. The dead man was Morgan Wayne Perry, though on the streets he was better known as "Mouse". He'd been killed by a young man from a privileged background, who'd been living alone in an apartment near where the incident took place. For Morgan's sister Michele Perry, it was the start of a journey to understand what happened to him.

Farmer Pat Murphy and his family moved to their 'dream property' at Maules Creek in New South Wales seven years ago. They were optimistic about the future, with plans to sub-divide their farm, run sheep and grow crops including barley and wheat. The location was close to towns and a school for their young children. But life changed dramatically for the Murphy family when exploration for an open-cut coal mine began right next door, just a year after they'd arrived in the area. Now that the mine is operating, Pat Murphy claims that he and his family are being affected by noise, dust and blast fumes. He says he wants to move, but that state government regulations have left him in limbo.

David Batty has made some of the best loved TV shows and documentaries about Indigenous life. He and his Aboriginal collaborator Francis Kelly struck gold 15 years ago with the TV series Bush Mechanics, their hilarious take on getting around the outback with no roadside assistance. As a single dad in the early 1980s, David moved with his young son to Alice Springs. They thrived in a town where young whites were walking alongside a newly radicalised Indigenous population. David joined the media organisation CAAMA (Central Australian Aboriginal Association), and later made television programs in local languages for the Indigenous population, as well as historical documentaries. Seven years ago, a shocking personal tragedy took David to the brink. The solace he found through his work with his Indigenous brothers would save him. Now David Batty is back with a new screen adventure Black As set in crocodile-infested Arnhem Land, echoing the cult classic Bush Mechanics.

When Paul Pritchard returned to Tasmania's majestic Totem Pole rock pillar three months ago it was the culmination of an 18-year journey. The former professional climber and writer suffered a massive injury in 1998 when his rope dislodged a large rock, which fell on his head. He was saved by the actions of his former girlfriend who hauled him 30 metres up to a ledge before running for help. In a second stroke of luck, the paramedic on duty that day was also a climber. Neale Smith's decision to short-circuit a cliff rescue and abseil with Paul down to a waiting boat almost certainly saved his life. The aftermath of the accident led to a new awakening for Paul and he describes it now as 'the best thing that ever happened to me'. This year he returned to the place that nearly killed him. With only one half of his body functioning properly, the stakes were high. This time, surrounded by friends, he made it to the top.

If you live in the bush it's hard to get the same level of medical care as you can in the city, but now a doctor has come up with an ambitious idea to change all that. Rolf Gomes started his working life as an electrical engineer before turning to medicine. The first time he saw a beating heart, with its 'valves and plumbing and electrics', he was 'hooked'. Then, as a young registrar in country hospitals, he experienced first-hand the challenges of trying to diagnose and treat patients without the specialist and diagnostic services that people in the city take for granted. As a cardiologist Dr Gomes had identified the problem, but as an engineer he sought to solve it. He came up with the idea of a mobile clinic - 'the heart bus' - while running his own cardiology practice in Brisbane. 'The heart bus' travels from town to town, treating patients and giving them a much better chance of surviving heart disease. Now, Dr Gomes has bigger plans to expand his service and include more medical specialties.

This week's program is about a young woman who puts a human face to the issue of "unauthorised" boat arrivals in Australia. Mojgan Shamsalipoor fled terrible personal trauma in her home country, Iran, and found sanctuary in Brisbane where she was able to live in the community while awaiting a decision on her protection visa. At a Baha'i youth camp she met a young Iranian refugee, Milad Jafari. They fell in love, married and were looking forward to a happier future. However, despite her apparent good fortune, her visa has been denied and she is now locked in detention with little prospect of fulfilling her dream of having a family with Milad and becoming a midwife. But she has many supporters who are determined to see her released back into the community.

When 16-year-old music student James Morrison met legendary jazz man Don Burrows in 1978, it was one of the biggest turning points in his life. After hearing James play, Don immediately took the young trumpeter under his wing, becoming his mentor and even inviting him to join the Burrows band. It was the beginning of a touching and enduring friendship, on stage and off. James Morrison went on to become Australia's most prominent jazz musician, and has never forgotten all that Don did for him. Now with Don Burrows about to turn 88 and in fading health, the tables have turned. It's time for James to look after Don.

With hopes high for success at Rio, this program marks the 60th anniversary of Australia's greatest-ever Olympics and celebrates the swimmer who inspired generations of Olympians. Murray Rose became a national hero at the age of 17, after winning three gold medals at the Olympic Games in Melbourne in 1956. But he was much more than just a fast swimmer. To many, he embodied the Olympic spirit. It was Murray Rose's interests outside the pool that initially set him apart. He was a vegetarian and a follower of Eastern and other philosophies long before it became fashionable. His style was tactical, and he had an uncanny ability to out-think and "out-psych" his opponents. But there was more to his fame than simply winning gold. His victory in the 1500 metres freestyle in 1956 became a symbol of international friendship when he embraced the silver medallist, the Japanese swimmer Tsuyoshi Yamanaka, at a time when the world was still recovering from the ravages of World War II. Murray Rose maintained his Olympic spirit throughout his life, renowned for his generosity and expertise in helping future champions.

Sixteen-year-old Georgie Stone has battled prejudice, bullying and even legal hurdles to become the remarkable young woman she is today. As a transgender teen, Georgie is now trying to use her experience to help other young people. Featuring a treasure trove of home videos, Australian Story follows Georgie's life from a toddler to the young advocate she has become. "Georgie has defied gravity from the moment she was born," says her mother Bec Robertson. "Because no matter how much people have dragged her down, she has risen above it every time. And not only that, she's brought everybody with her." Georgie is now lobbying politicians for law reform so other transgender teenagers no longer have to go to court to be assessed as to their ability to understand and consent to treatment.

Patricia Amphlett became a pop star at fourteen. Better known as "Little Pattie", she rode the first wave of surfie culture in the early 1960s. Her top hits including "He's my Blonde Headed Stompie Wompie Real Gone Surfer Boy" and "Stompin' at Maroubra" were anthems of the times. At 17, Little Pattie became the youngest entertainer to perform for the troops in Vietnam. While on stage at the Australian base Nui Dat on 18 August 1966 the Battle of Long Tan erupted nearby. It was a dangerous and life-changing experience. Fifty years later Australian Story accompanied Patricia Amphlett as she returned to Vietnam for the anniversary commemoration, to remember those who died in the Battle of Long Tan and to sing once more for those who survived. Nobody expected the events that unfolded.

Women have been playing Australian Rules Football in local clubs for decades but that's as far as they've been able to go. Now this is all about to change, with the launch of a National AFL Women's League in February 2017. A driving force behind this revolution is Western Bulldogs vice-president Susan Alberti. The businesswoman and philanthropist has been a tireless advocate for women's AFL and a vocal critic of those she considers disrespectful to women. Susan Alberti is a great supporter of female players and one of the stars of the game she has come to admire is marquee Collingwood player, Moana Hope. With her signature pearls and designer handbag, Susan Alberti would seem very different to the tattooed, shaved-haired Moana Hope. But as Australian Story reveals, the two women have more in common than meets the eye.

In this program, Australian Story travels with filmmaker and actor Damon Gameau (The Kettering Incident, Balibo, Love My Way, The Tracker) as he repays a debt of knowledge by helping to revitalise an Indigenous community's healthy eating initiative. Gameau's interest in diet first came to public attention when he became his own 'lab-rat' by testing the effects of massive sugar consumption on his own body and turning it into Australia's most successful documentary -That Sugar Film. While making the documentary, Gameau went to Central Australia to learn about an Indigenous initiative aimed at reducing the disastrous health effects of the modern diet in remote communities. It was called Mai Wiru, or 'Good Food'. The man in charge of Mai Wiru was John Tregenza and he allowed Damon Gameau to film on the basis of 'Ngapartjia Ngapartjia' - that he would give something back. After government funding was withdrawn from Mai Wiru, Damon Gameau has kept his promise and used the success of his documentary to support John Tregenza and the Good Food project, recently taking two nutritionists and a healthy eating plan to Pipalyatjara, an alcohol-free community 800 kilometres south-west of Alice Springs.

Cedar Anderson and his father Stuart were living off the smell of an oily rag in the hills behind Byron Bay when they invented a revolutionary new beehive. When Australian Story first met the pair a year ago, a spectacularly successful crowdfunding campaign had turned them into millionaires virtually overnight. It also left them with 25,000 orders to fill from around the world. To add to the pressure, Cedar and his partner Kylie had just given birth to their first child. From tinkering together in a shed, Cedar and Stuart are now running a complex international company. In the past year their staff has grown to 35, three factories and seven warehouses around the world are fulfilling orders, and their invention was awarded the most prestigious prize at Australia's Good Design Awards. Australian Story revisited the Andersons to see how the success of their company has changed their lives.

When country singer Beccy Cole outed herself as a gay woman in 2012, her love life at the time was “nil.” Just a few weeks later, she met the love of her life, cabaret singer Libby O’Donovan. With their two children from earlier relationships, they set up a blended home in Adelaide, “sort of like a big gay Brady Bunch.” Now they follow the debate over the legalisation of same-sex marriage with particular interest: They plan to marry as soon as they’re allowed to.

Growing up, cousins Deb Drummond and Jan Teunis knew very little about the shadowy figure that was their grandfather Reg Brown. They had never seen a photo and all they were told was that he was an accountant who had died of bronchitis just after World War Two. Curious to discover more, the cousins pored over public records, and were shocked to discover their grandfather was found guilty of a notorious Brisbane murder. For most people, Reg Brown’s murder conviction was, and remains, clear cut. But after a decade spent testing the evidence and finding fresh angles, the cousins hold grave doubts that justice was done.

When Michael Cox and Taylor Anderton became an item their parents were delighted their adult children, who both have Down syndrome, had found love. But when the couple, both in their early 20s, started talking about weddings and babies, their parents became alarmed. Now, the families are wrestling with Taylor and Michael wanting "adult things": sleepovers, sex and a honeymoon in Vegas. Michael and Taylor believe their parents are being overprotective, as do disability advocates. Both sets of parents fear the consequences of a baby on all of their lives.

Talitha Cummins describes herself as the modern face of a recovering alcoholic: she’s young, professional, educated and high-functioning. The Channel Seven journalist first began drinking as a 14-year-old to fight shyness and social discomfort. But the alter ego that emerged when she drank – extrovert, confident, brazen – swiftly began to cause problems. By her early 30s Cummins was a successful television reporter by day and a binge drinker by night. But it wasn’t until her boss intervened to say her job was at stake that she finally took action. Today Cummins is four years sober, has a newborn son and is the happiest she’s ever been, but admits she is far from the finish line when it comes to beating her addiction.

Brisbane mother Sally Faulkner made headlines earlier this year when she was jailed in Beirut, along with a 60 Minutes crew and a child recovery team. What began as a custody battle had now turned into an international incident. Ten months earlier, Sally’s estranged husband Ali Elamine had asked to take their two children, five-year-old Lahela and two-year-old Noah, to Lebanon for a holiday. He then called Sally to say the children would not be coming back to Australia. In a desperate attempt to bring the children home, Sally travelled to Beirut where they were snatched from a street. Just who is the woman behind the headlines and how did it come to this? In this two-part program, Sally Faulkner for the first time gives a detailed account of what went wrong.

What went wrong when Sally Faulkner attempted to snatch her children from the streets of Beirut? In part two of “When Plans Change”, we hear from people on the ground in Beirut including the driver of the getaway car, the woman who sheltered Sally and her children in a “safe house”, as well as police. It seems, from day one, the mission to recover Sally’s children was doomed. This episode begins as Sally Faulkner, 60 Minutes and the recovery team arrive in Beirut. It soon becomes apparent to authorities that something is up. They don’t know what, but start to monitor the Australian arrivals.

On the eve of the race that stops a nation, Australian Story looks back at the career of one of this country’s most loved horses, Black Caviar, and introduces her first offspring, Oscietra, a promising two-year-old filly now in pre-training with top trainer David Hayes. Australian Story had unparalleled access to Black Caviar, its owners and trainer, for much of the legendary mare’s career, and was the only media team allowed behind the scenes when she was retired in April 2013. Black Caviar won her first race in 2009, beginning a record-breaking run of 25 wins from 25 starts. She also holds the record for the most Group 1 wins. Considered Australia’s greatest sprinter, Black Caviar captured the public’s imagination like no other horse since Phar Lap. The question now is, will her legacy continue through her up-and-coming offspring?

A year ago the small rural community of Mingoola on the New South Wales-Queensland border was facing a bleak future. The population was in decline and the local primary school was about to close. Julia Harpham and other locals vowed to do something about it. Meanwhile in Western Sydney, refugee advocate Emmanuel Musoni saw problems affecting people in his community who’d come from war-ravaged countries of central Africa. Many of them had rural backgrounds and were struggling to adapt to an urban lifestyle. When Julia and Emmanuel were put in contact late last year, they saw a solution to both their problems. The Mingoola community set about renovating several abandoned farmhouses and arranging job opportunities, and in April the first African families moved to the area. Emmanuel describes it as a “meeting of dreams”. For the Africans it offered a return to their roots; for the farmers it would provide an injection of life into their community. Many now believe the Mingoola model could be used to help struggling rural communities across the country.

When Jodi Keough traded in her journalism career for love and a life on the land, she never imagined she would find herself at the centre of a devastating and alarming story. But then the unimaginable happened. Her precious one-year-old son Cash died after playing with a garden hose on the family’s cattle station. Jodi and her husband Laine were shocked to learn that the untreated water from the hose was carrying a rare but deadly amoeba, Naegleria fowleri. Grief-stricken, they appeared on Australian Story last year in the hope that their experience would be a warning to others. As summer approaches, the Keough family’s story is a timely reminder of this hidden danger that can lurk in warm, fresh waters in the bush.

This final episode for 2016 is the dramatic untold story of one of our newest Australians. Five years ago, Khaled Naanaa was 25, recently married and working as a nurse in a major hospital in the Syrian city of Damascus. He and his wife Joumana were just starting their lives together. Then civil war broke out and changed everything. Khaled headed to the rebel-held town of Madaya and for three years treated victims of the fighting and violence. Then, when the town came under siege, he witnessed a profound atrocity – civilians including children being needlessly starved to death. What he did next caused a global outcry, and put him in the line of fire. Now, with the help of an Australian journalist, he has the chance of a new life with his wife and daughter in Australia.