Henry Lawson
Henry Lawson was one of Australia’s most celebrated literary giants. Best known for his stark and striking poetry and short stories, Lawson’s raw depictions of life in the Australian bush strike a chord in the hearts of anyone who reads his work. As we look at the life and times of this renowned Australian poet, we might learn some lessons from his life and work.
Ned Kelly – The Outlaw
In June 1880, the Kelly gang clashed with the Victoria Police in a long-anticipated shootout. When the police arrived in the small town of Glenrowan, where the gang was holed up, they quickly donned their homemade iron armour, crafted from stolen ploughboards. Whatever else Ned Kelly may have been; he was undoubtedly innovative. Join us this week as we explore his story and examine the Biblical armour that God has prepared for each of us.
Dinosaurs and Fossils – Prehistoric Giants
Since the early 19th century, discoveries of fossilized bones have fascinated scientists. From Mary and Joseph Anning’s 1810 discovery of the bones of a marine reptile in Lyme Regis, England, to the discovery of the mysterious and ferocious dinosaurs in 1820, these forgotten giants, buried beneath layers of rock and earth, have opened our eyes to creatures beyond our wildest imaginings. But long before the discovery of these bones, the Bible offered us glimpses of strange creatures that had frolicked in the sea and sailed through the air. The mighty leviathan, who is described as a great marine beast writhing through the ocean, and the strange and fearsome winged serpents who floated through the arid desert air populate the pages of the Scriptures, telling us that perhaps these creatures were brought to life by the hand of a loving creator. In this program we’ll take a look at some of these amazing creatures: who they were, where they lived and what their origins were. Join us as we take a fascinating look at these giant marine reptiles, flying creatures and dinosaurs in this week’s episode of The Incredible Journey.
Angkor Wat – A Message in Stone
In 1580, a Portuguese Capuchin friar, Antonio da Madalena, departed the renowned Alcobaça Monastery in central Portugal, embarking on an adventure that led him to Goa, India, where he established a library for his order. By 1586, after years of exploring Southeast Asia’s dense jungles, cultures, and religions, he stumbled upon the sprawling ruins of Angkor—a magnificent ancient metropolis of stone featuring moated cities, palaces, and the iconic Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument. The complex, built without mortar or machines, left Madalena pondering its origins: Alexander the Great, the lost tribes of Israel, or the local Khmer people. This awe-inspiring discovery invites us to explore the secrets of Angkor Wat and uncover an ancient message in stone that resonates even today.
Dr Graeme Clark – Sound from Silence
The multiple-channel Cochlear implant is a life-changing technology that was designed to restore hearing to profoundly deaf people. It was invented by an amazing Australian, Dr Graeme Clark, who regularly took time to pray and allow God to guide him.
Melbourne Cup – The Race That Stops a Nation
There’s probably not one single sporting event anywhere in the world that captures a whole nation like this one. On the first Tuesday in November every year in Melbourne, the best horses in the world gather to run the 3200m or 2 miles to win the coveted prize – The Melbourne Cup. It’s the richest two-mile race in the world. But it’s not just a horse race; it’s one of the greatest fashion events on the calendar. It is associated with the arrival of spring, and over 100,000 people are drawn to the carnival atmosphere of high fashion, glamour, garden parties, and the races. Join Gary Kent at the Flemington Racecourse and learn about one of the oldest and richest handicap races in horse racing, which captures the heart of the nation. We will also discover that each of us is caught up in a race, the race of life.
Franz Hasel – The Soldier Who Defied Hitler
In 1939, Franz Hasel, a 40-year-old pacifist, received a draft summons, leading him to serve as a Private in the Pioneer Company 699 of the German army. Despite donning the uniform, he opposed the Nazi regime and risked his life to warn villagers of impending danger from SS death squads. In a daring move, he even informed his sergeant that Hitler wouldn’t win the war during the advance into Russia. These actions amounted to treason, punishable by death, yet Hasel survived. His story unfolds as a testament to his defiance against societal norms and his belief in a higher law amidst the chaos of war.
Marie Durand – Imprisoned but Free
Marie Durand was 19 years old when she was imprisoned in the Tower of Constance in France. Her crime was having a brother who was a Protestant minister. She …
Walking With Reindeer
The Sami are known as the people ‘who walk with reindeer’, but they not only walk with reindeer, they also rest with them, and they bring us a reminder of an…
The Christmas Truce of 1914
World War I, often called the war to end all wars, began in 1914 after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, an event that ignited the already rising tensions among European nations. The war commenced in August with widespread enthusiasm, as young men rushed to enlist, believing they would return home by Christmas. However, by December, the optimism for a swift victory had vanished, replaced by the harsh reality of trench warfare. Millions of soldiers found themselves in muddy trenches, separated by a deadly no man’s land filled with barbed wire and the fallen. As the cold winter of 1914 settled over the Western Front and Christmas approached, the mood was sombre, with many experiencing their first Christmas away from home. The contrast between the season’s message of peace and the brutal daily realities of war was stark. Yet, on Christmas Day 1914, something extraordinary occurred—a moment of unexpected humanity as the guns fell silent. Join Gary Kent as we explore the trenches of the Western Front and uncover the story of this remarkable day.
