Prime minister in car accident

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On This Day ……. 30th May 1954

Sir Arthur Faddan (13th Prime Minister of Australia) was injured in a car accident at Grantham, about 80 miles from Brisbane on the eve of the Federal election on this day in 1954. He under when a minor operation for the removal of congealed blood. Because of the election on the Saturday after the accident, Prime Minister Menzies had not been able to visit Sir Arthur sooner. The Prime Minister was “deeply shocked” when he first heard of the accident and made arrangements to have half-hour telephone reports on Sir Arthur’s condition.

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The Knowing

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60 years of Australian TV

Knowing is a 2009 science fiction thriller directed by Alex Proyas and starring Nicolas Cage. The project was originally attached to a number of directors under Columbia Pictures, but it was placed in turnaround and eventually picked up by Escape Artists. Production was financially backed by Summit Entertainment. Knowing was filmed in Docklands Studios Melbourne, Australia, using various locations to represent the film’s Boston-area setting. The film was released on March 20, 2009, in the United States. The DVD and Blu-ray media were released on July 7, 2009. Knowing met with mixed reviews, with praise towards the acting performances, visual style and atmosphere, but had criticism over the implausibilities. In the final scenes as the world is exploding Nicolas Cage returns to his parents house at Medley Hall, 48 Drummond St, Carlton.

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Pyjama Man – MILDURA

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On this day ……… 30th of May 1953 

Homicide squad detectives investigating the Mildura “Pyjama Man” murder have taken possession of a 12in. iron bar. Senior-detective N. Wilby and Detective E. Miller found the bar when they went to Mildura to investigate fresh reports by local police. The bar will be examined by police scientific experts in Melbourne later this week. An aborigine told police he saw a man hide the bar in bushes a few weeks, after the murder of Milan Hlavenka, 32, Czechoslovakian student. Hlavenka was battered to death and robbed of £8/8/ while he slept, dressed in pyjamas, in a sleeping bag on the banks of the Murray near Mildura on May 30. Detectives Wilby and Miller interviewed several aborigines at the weekend.

 

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Woman charged with murder – BALLARAT

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On this day ……… 30th of May 1911

At the Ballarat Supreme Court, Louisa Rooke was charged with the murder on May 30 of Ellen Maud Wilson. The evidence was, practically a repetition of that given at the inquest. lt was alleged that accused performed an illegal operation. The defence was that the injuries were self inflicted. The jury found accused guilty and she was sentenced to death.

 

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Murder in Mount Martha – book launch

30th June

Join Hybrid Publishing and Twisted History in a night of Murder when we present Janice Simpson, author of “Murder in Mount Martha”. Step back in time for an unforgettable evening, as you are incarcerated in the historic Bourke Street West Police Cells at the Royal Melbourne Hotel. Evening includes dinner, talks by Twisted History on Victoria’s Crime and Police History before Janice talking of her new book based on the unsolved murder of Shirley Collins in 1953 – “Murder in Mount Martha”
For information and bookings please call 1300 865 800

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50 pound magnet behind a rowboat – FOOTSCRAY

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On this day ……… 29th of May 1963

Homicide detectives investigating the murder of the taxi driver, Norman Victor Jones, on May 29, probed the bottom of the Maribyrnong River with a large magnet to look for the murder weapon. They trailed a 50lb. magnet behind a rowboat for three quarters of a mile in the vicinity closest to the murder scene, in Newell Street, Footscray, a quarter of a mile away. This new move was one of the first in a complete appraisal of the murder. Jones was found lying 30 yards from his cab, with deep gashes in his neck. The murder weapon was either a sharp knife or a “cut-throat’ razor. Detective-Sergeant Kevin Carton, the leader of the investigations, said today the whole inquiry would be repeated. He said there may have been something missed accidentally during the initial investigations.

 

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Murder of soldier unsolved – WALLINGTON

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On this day ……… 29th of May 1942

After hearing 21 witnesses, Mr E. J. Haynes, deputy coroner, found that Arthur Roy Willis, 44, military driver, formerly of Casterton, had been murdered by some person unknown on May 29. Willis’s body was found on the side of the Ocean Grove road, Wallington, with 4 bullet wounds, and indications were that some of the bullets had been fired while he was lying on the ground. Dr. C. H. Mollison said that death was due to haemorrhage from a wound in the abdomen. The bullet had entered from the back. Evidence was given that Miss Norma G. Pretlove, on holidays from Casterton, met Willis by accident in Geelong on May 28, and as a result he was introduced to Mrs Linda E. Black and Mrs Mary D. Skepper, both of Orchard st. In conversation with the women Willis had made it clear that he was to be at the tram terminus at 2am next morning to obtain a ride to the camp. He mentioned the name Green to Mrs Skepper, but she could not say whether it referred to an old soldier mate or to the person who was to pick him up. Willis spent portion of the evening at Mrs Black’s house, then went out with Miss Pretlove, returned by taxi to Mrs Black’s, and arranged to be picked up by a taxi at 1am to be taken to East Geelong tram terminus. Mrs Vera E. Ward, Point Lonsdale, said that a soldier named Green parked his car at her place. On May 29 Green, when putting his car away, mentioned that he had told Willis he would pick him up, but he had not seen anything of him, and came on.

“TOO CROOK TO EAT”

Garnet Kinsman, military driver, said he saw Green in bed on the morning, and Green had stated that he got back to camp between 5 and 6 am and was “too crook” to have breakfast. Green was still drunk. He said he had not seen Willis.
Witness was questioned as to differences, between his evidence and statements made to the police, and at the conclusion Mr Haynes said he regarded witness’s evidence as unsatisfactory. Michael Curran Green, military driver, said that on May 28 he drove his car to Melbourne. Willis had told him he had leave and was not sure what time he would be returning to camp. He had told Willis he would not be back before 2am or later than 6am, and that if Willis was on the main road he would be welcome to a lift. There was no definite arrangement and he did not mention the tram terminus as a meeting place. He did not leave Melbourne till late, and at Geelong took a wrong turn and did not pass the tram terminus. He knew the police were seeking the driver of a truck who was supposed to have arranged to meet Willis, but he had not volunteered information. Mr A. J. B. Aird appeared to assist the coroner; Mr P. D. F. O’Keefe for Mesdames Black, and Skepper, and Miss Pretlove. An inquiry into the death of Pte John Joseph Hulston, 19, who was shot while on sentry duty on September 1, was formally opened and adjourned until tomorrow.

 

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Suspected of murder – BEULAH

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On this day ……… 29th of May 1892

A man named Samson Cornwell died at Beulah, near Warracknabeal, on May 29. No post-mortem examination was held, but at a Magisterial inquiry a verdict of death from natural causes was given. From subsequent information in the hands of the police an application was granted to exhume the body, which was done, and at the inquest held a post mortem revealed a salty metallic substance in the liver and stomach, a portion of which was sent to the Government Analyst for analysis. The inquest was adjourned until July 13. A woman named O’Brien, who was living with Cornwell, purchased some arsenic a few days before he died. She and a coloured man named Prato are under arrest for taking certain property of the deceased’s estate.

 

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Tasmania’s coat of arms is approved by Royal Warrant from King George V

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On this day …….. 29th May 1917

Tasmania is a small island state located off the southeast coast of Australia. Originally named Van Diemen’s Land by Abel Tasman in 1642, Tasmania is the second oldest state in Australia to have been settled. Unlike the other states and territories of Australia, Tasmania does not have an official animal emblem, although the Tasmanian devil is the “unofficial” emblem of the state. The extinct Tasmanian Tiger, or Thylacine, also symbolises the state on the Tasmanian coat of arms. The coat of arms features a shield supported by two thylacines. On the shield are wheat, apples, hops and sheep, all symbols of Tasmania’s main rural industries. Above the shield is a red lion holding a pick and shovel, which symbolises the rich mining history of the state. The Latin motto underneath is Ubertas et fidelitas, meaning ‘Fertility and Faithfulness’. Tasmania’s coat of arms was approved by Royal Warrant from King George V on 29 May 1917, and proclaimed in 1919.

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Wentworth

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60 years of Australian TV

Wentworth is an Australian television drama series. It was first broadcast on SoHo on 1 May 2013. The series serves as a contemporary reimagining of Prisoner, which ran on Network Ten from 1979 to 1986. Lara Radulovich and David Hannam developed Wentworth from Reg Watson’s original concept. The series is set in the modern day and begins with Bea Smith (Danielle Cormack)’s early days in prison. One of the main characters is Liz Birdsworth. Liz Birdsworth is sentenced to 11 years for Manslaughter, dangerous driving causing death, and driving under the influence. Liz drank a whole bottle of vodka due to stress of organising her mother-in-law’s birthday party. After a fight with her husband ending with him asking her to leave, Liz drives a tractor and drives it over the party tables. Everyone runs to the tractor trying to get Liz off, her daughter stands in front and pleads with Liz to stop. Liz veers the tractor to miss hitting her daughter but ends up hitting her mother-in-law by accident. The filming location for Liz’s house was at Point Cook Homestead, 1 Point Cook Homestead Rd, Point Cook.

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250,000 people walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the People’s Walk for Reconciliation during Corroboree 2000

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On this day …….. 28th May 2000

Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of Australia including its nearby islands. The term encompasses the various indigenous peoples known as Aborigines, whose traditional lands extend throughout mainland Australia, Tasmania and offshore islands, and also the Torres Strait Islanders whose lands are centred on the Torres Strait Islands which run between northernmost Australia and the island of New Guinea. Ever since European settlement in 1788, tension has existed between Indigenous peoples and the Europeans, and the path to reconciliation between the various races has been long and slow. The 28th of May 2000 saw The People’s Walk for Reconciliation across the Sydney Harbour Bridge as a celebration of reconciliation which had been achieved thus far, and to symbolise the fact that reconciliation involves all Australians. It was held in conjunction with Corroboree 2000, which occurred in Sydney during Reconciliation Week in May 2000 to mark the end of the ten-year official Reconciliation process. The walk began at North Sydney station and finished at Darling Harbour, and involved some 250,000 people walking across Sydney’s Harbour Bridge to show their support of the process of Reconciliation between Aboriginal Australians and white Australians.

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