The Girl Who Talked to the Stars
Bett-Bett was a key character in the classic Australian books “We of the Never-Never” and “The Little Black Princess.” Who was this Little Black Princess of the Never-Never? This was a question that readers of the books asked for decades. The true identity of Bett-Bett stayed unknown until she herself revealed it more than 60 years after the books had first been published. For decades we thought she had been lost in the bush. This episode reveals Bett-Bett’s identity and the challenges she faced after leaving her home at Elsey Station in the Northern Territory.
The Bible – What’s In It For You?
In 2023 the oldest Hebrew Bible in the world sold at Sotheby’s New York for over $38 million USD, making it the most valuable manuscript sold at auction. It is called the Codex Sassoon and is thought to have been written about 1,100 years ago. It is the earliest surviving example of the Hebrew Bible. The Codex Sassoon Bible is a veritable treasure. However, there are older ancient Bibles, scrolls, and manuscripts that are even more valuable and involve amazing stories of discovery. Join us in the Bible Lands as we search for the oldest scrolls, manuscripts, codices, and Bibles and discover the profound influence they’ve had on Western civilisation and cultures around the world.
Lost – Three Children’s Fight for Survival
In August 1864, three young children went missing in the bushland of Victoria’s Wimmera District. Isaac, Jane, and Frank Duff, aged between four and nine, had become lost in the rugged wilderness. Their father, John Duff, launched a desperate search that stretched over nine days and eight nights. Just before sunset on the ninth day, the children were found alive—exhausted, malnourished, but miraculously still clinging to life. Their survival captured the hearts and imagination of the entire community. In this program, we explore the extraordinary story of these resilient children and their remarkable endurance in the harsh and unforgiving Australian bush.
King Herod – A Legacy of Blood and Stone
He is one of the most reviled and hated men in history. He was the king of the Holy Land during the time of Jesus and is best known for ordering the massacre in Bethlehem of all male children under 2 years old. His name? Herod the Great.
The Coles Story: From Corner Store to Supermarket Giant
The value of the global trade of goods in the world today is approximately 30 trillion US dollars. That’s 83 billion dollars per day of goods transported worldwide across land, air and sea. However, trade is nothing new; in ancient times, trade began as a barter system in which people exchanged one object for another. Eventually it moved to markets, then shops and now we have supermarkets with around 40,000 items in the store. How did this happen? Join Gary Kent as he explores the story of Sir George James Coles—a businessman and a philanthropist who chose to make a difference and started one of the biggest supermarket chains in Australia.
Sacred Sites of the Ancient World
Virtually all ancient civilisations considered the celestial bodies and their movements of great importance, even incorporating astronomical events into the design of their sacred temples and monuments. The Egyptians, Babylonians, Mesopotamians, Chinese, Incas, Mayans and Aztecs worshipped the sun, moon, and stars. They built splendid sacred monuments that reflected astronomical events associated with the movement of the planets and stars. They were revered as gods to be worshipped and considered vital to people’s day-to-day lives. These ancient people believed the stars carried an important message for humanity. Interestingly, these majestic stars do have a message for us today. Join Gary on a journey to some of the most magnificent sacred sites in the ancient world to discover the message of the stars – a message that will hold you spellbound.
Lennie the Legend – An Epic Journey to the Bridge of Dreams
In 1932, Lennie Gwyther was nine years old when he and his horse Ginger Mick embarked on a 1000-kilometre journey to Sydney to see the newly constructed harbour bridge. At the time, Australia was in the throes of economic depression, and Lennie’s journey resonated with many Australians. At the end of his journey, Lennie was dubbed a legend and given a hero’s welcome in both Sydney and his native town of Leongatha. Join us as we follow in the footsteps of Lennie Gwyther and his incredible journey.
Defeat of Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa and the area which fell under it became the site of some of the largest and most brutal battles, deadliest atrocities, terrible loss of life, and horrific conditions for Soviets and Germans alike – all of which influenced the course of World War 2. The defeat of Operation Barbarossa led to the end of that war and all the pain, suffering and horrific conditions that accompanied it. In this program we investigate its connection with a young Australian engineer and consider the insights Operation Barbarossa provides into the Universal War, the War behind all wars that is still raging today and involves all of us, yes, even you and me.
Record Breakers – Nevill & Bubsie – First Drive Around Australia
In August 1925, two young adventurous missionaries set off from Perth, Western Australia, in their small Citroën with a plan to drive to Darwin, selling books and collecting donations along the way. If they made it that far, they would be the first motorists to complete that journey. But adventure took on a life of its own and, by the end of the year, Nevill Westwood and the little car ‘Bubsie’ had driven into the history books and completed the first journey around Australia.
Foods that Heal the Brain
Did you know that the foods we eat daily determine our brain’s health and well-being? And here’s what’s important. There are superfoods and lifestyle choices that can heal our brains. It’s a question that lurks in our minds. Could the foods we eat really affect our ability to concentrate, focus, learn, and remember? Can the foods we eat really harm our brains? Every day, when we choose foods to eat, do we ask ourselves, “Is this food good for my brain, my body, and my well-being?”
Well, nutritionists tell us that parts of the brain linked to learning, memory, and mental health are smaller in people who have lots of fast foods, hamburgers, fries, potato chips, and soft drinks in their diet. However, their research shows that berries, whole grains, nuts, and green leafy vegetables preserve brain function and slow mental decline. So, what does this mean for us? There is a lot of discussion today about healthy food choices, plant-based options, and food for our well-being. How do we determine the best foods for our brains and our health?
Join Gary as he and a nutritional neuroscientist discuss the impact of food on our brains, the best foods for our brains and the foods that harm our brains.