Australian History: Brilliant stories from Australia's past.
We reflect on the reforms Bligh had introduced and note the rising aggravation amongst the ‘trading group’, who were beginning to lose some of their previous dodgy income streams and privileged arrangements. Many were challenging Bligh’s authority, particularity through the courts and with appeals directly to England, and as tensions...
This episode looks at William Bligh’s background and his reputation as a Naval Captain. He had some very difficult tasks ahead of him as Governor of the troubled NSW colony, and we need to consider if he had the requisite personality and abilities to introduce the reforms required. The English...
William Bligh, the very same Captain probably best known for the mutiny on the Bounty, was to be recruited in his later life, as the Governor of the Colony of New South Wales. But it seems his days of attracting mutinous behaviour were not over. Bligh would find himself again...
Australian Rules Football and the earliest clubs formed to compete, are said to be the oldest established football clubs in the world. Started in the late 1850s, initially based loosely on the Rugby School game, within 20 years it had evolved to become the basis of Australia’s very own, different...
Early in World War 2, German Raiders were laying sea mines around Australian & New Zealand coastal waters. Here we tell the story of one ship that was sunk by those mines, and the exceptional salvage operation that was undertaken to recover precious cargo that had gone down with the...
In Part 2 we will follow William Swallow and his fellow mutineer convicts on the commandeered ship, the Cyprus. Swallow and his men were delighted to be heading into the Pacific, away from the dreaded Macquarie Harbour, and his sailing skills were put to the test as they made their...
In part one of Convict Mutineers, we learn about a felon who just could not bear the idea of a life in exile, willing to take all necessary risks to try to return to England. And his efforts were extraordinary. I think you will enjoy hearing about this Houdini like...
As an appendix to Episode 44, Henry Lawson, today’s episode presents two final readings, two more humorous offerings. We read a Banjo Paterson poem, called ‘The Man from Ironbark’ which I mentioned in Ep 44, and then a short story by Henry Lawson, titled ‘The Loaded Dog’. (23 mins) [Image:...
This episode is an appendix to Episode 44 – Henry Lawson. We read poems that contributed to the ‘Bulletin Debate’, discussed in the earlier episode. We include Banjo Paterson’s ‘Clancy of the Overflow’, ‘In Defense of the Bush’ & ‘An answer to various Bards’, as well as Henry Lawson’s ‘Up...
Following Ep 44 on Henry Lawson, this episode will be a reading of Henry Lawson’s short story (or sketch), The Drover’s Wife, published in the Bulletin, July 1892. Please listen to Ep 44 first, for the life & times of Henry Lawson. (20 mins) References: LAWSON, HENRY. The Drover’s Wife...