About this season
Putting the "real" back into reality television, Australian Story is an award-winning documentary series with no narrator and no agendas — just authentic stories told entirely in people's own words.
Episodes (40)
1. Operation Wendy
Aired 7 February 2005 • 30 min
Despite being born with a hare lip and double cleft palate, Wendy Harmer has become one of Australia's best known performers. Last year she was invited by the Interplast organisation to share her knowledge about overcoming a facial deformity by visiting children in Fiji born with the same condition.
2. Meeting Miss Menzies
Aired 14 February 2005 • 30 min
When Ian Thorpe won his two gold medals at the Athens Olympics, it was a personal triumph for him - and a vindication for a former art teacher called Tracey Menzies. Two years earlier, Menzies was at the centre of controversy when Thorpe appointed her to replace his long time coach and mentor, Doug Frost.
3. My Brother John
Aired 21 February 2005 • 30 min
Debbie Singh was running a Perth boutique and juggling marriage and three children, when out of the blue in 1998, she discovered that her brother had been locked up in Thailand's notorious hell hole, the Klong Prem prison, or the "Bangkok Hilton".
4. The Gathering Storm - Part 1
Aired 28 February 2005 • 30 min
Beth Heinrich, the woman whose case was central to the controversy that led to the resignation of Governor-General Peter Hollingworth, speaks out publicly for the first time about her 40-year relationship with clergyman Donald Shearman.
5. The Gathering Storm - Part 2
Aired 7 March 2005 • 30 min
Australian Story continues the saga of Beth Heinrich and her involvement from her school days, with a married priest. In this program she tells of the promises that led her to believe she had a future with him and the shock and betrayal she felt when the Anglican Church hierarchy failed to give her a proper hearing.
6. The Born Identity
Aired 14 March 2005 • 30 min
Millions of fans around the world know him affectionately as Harold Bishop, the slightly daggy star of the television soapie Neighbours. But until now, none knew Ian Smith's real life story encompasses a drama more remarkable than any script he has ever performed.
7. A Beautiful Mind
Aired 21 March 2005 • 30 min
Melissa Holland thought she was "lucky" when a last-minute seat became available for a getaway break on King Island with five nursing colleagues. It turned out to be the start of a tragic turn of events that changed her life forever.
8. The Flying Doctor
Aired 28 March 2005 • 30 min
Dr Glenn Singleman is the world record holder for high altitude BASE jumping, but he is unable to practise his sport in his own country.
9. Romancing the Stone
Aired 4 April 2005 • 30 min
It's a long way from the paddocks of western Queensland to the palazzos of Florence. Fourth-generation grazier Bruce Tully bridged the gap when he stepped away from his heritage and sold his family farm to follow his seemingly impossible dream of designing and selling Australian opal jewellery to the world.
10. Rock of Ages
Aired 11 April 2005 • 30 min
Dick Smith and his friends regroup and visit Ball's Pyramid, the formidable dagger-like rock that spears straight up from the Pacific Ocean, south of Lord Howe Island which they climbed forty years ago.
11. Thirteen
Aired 18 April 2005 • 30 min
The dramatic story of a Sydney family forced to flee the city because of fears for the safety of their youngest daughter.
12. From My Father's Fridge
Aired 25 April 2005 • 30 min
In the 1980s as an unemployed medical scientist, Professor Robert Tindle made a discovery that led to the breakthrough use of stem cells for saving thousands of lives around the world. His discovery was crucial 20 years later in saving the life of his own critically ill daughter.
13. Colours of Caroline
Aired 2 May 2005 • 30 min
Every year, on 5th May the family of Caroline Anderson gather to remember her sudden, unnecessary death.
14. In the Midnight Hour
Aired 9 May 2005 • 30 min
After the sudden death of cricket legend David Hookes in January last year, some of those closest to David Hookes felt shut out.
15. To Boldly Go
Aired 16 May 2005 • 30 min
Earlier this year Australian diver Dave Shaw made headlines around the world when he lost his life in a remote cave in South Africa.
16. The Comeback Kid
Aired 23 May 2005 • 30 min
Scott Draper has achieved the near impossible in the competitive world of modern sport.
17. Back Into the Forest
Aired 30 May 2005 • 30 min
Australian Story revisits the program about serial killer Ivan Milat, who was jailed for life eight years ago for the murder of seven young backpackers.
18. Of Droughts and Flooding Rains - Part 1
Aired 6 June 2005 • 30 min
Peter Andrews is a racehorse breeder and farmer credited with remarkable success in converting degraded, salt-ravaged properties into fertile, drought-resistant pastures.
19. Of Droughts and Flooding Rains - Part 2
Aired 13 June 2005 • 30 min
In this concluding episode, eminent national and international scientists agree that Peter Andrews potentially has the solution to alleviating the affects of drought on many parts of the Australian landscape.
20. The Real McInnes
Aired 20 June 2005 • 30 min
William McInnes is an actor best known for his high profile TV roles in 'Blue Heelers' and 'SeaChange'.
21. At Death's Door
Aired 27 June 2005 • 30 min
Toni Hoffman is the nurse who lifted the lid on a medical scandal making front page news, not just in Australia, but around the world.
22. In Harm's Way
Aired 4 July 2005 • 30 min
Donna Mulhearn, a 30-something successful journalist and state government public relations officer dropped everything to risk her life as a 'human shield' against the American bombs dropping on Baghdad.
23. Saving Trooper Gebhardt
Aired 11 July 2005 • 30 min
Australian Story follows the extraordinary lives of a Centurion tank crew who last saw each other on a battlefield in Vietnam.
24. The Sherman Fortune
Aired 18 July 2005 • 30 min
Brian Sherman, co-founder of Equitilink, has founded a new organisation with his daughter called 'Voiceless' which advocates for animal rights.
25. Burnt by the Sun
Aired 25 July 2005 • 30 min
Last year Lt Col. Lance Collins emerged as the central figure in a major unfolding controversy about the quality of Australia's overseas intelligence.
26. The Life of Brian
Aired 1 August 2005 • 30 min
When Brian and Bobbie Houston established their own tiny house of worship 20 years ago, they didn't dream they would end up at the helm of the biggest independent church in Australia.
27. Girl in the Mirror
Aired 8 August 2005 • 30 min
Emmah Money is a beautiful and vital young woman with the world at her feet, on a mission to shape her future despite suffering from the life threatening disease cystic fibrosis.
28. The School of St Jude
Aired 15 August 2005 • 30 min
Gemma Sisia established The School of St Jude for poor African children in Tanzania, East Africa which was built by Australian volunteers and sponsors and now boasts more than 500 students.
29. The Garden of Good and Evil
Aired 22 August 2005 • 30 min
Dr Lynne Milne has brought forensic palynology to the forefront of Australian crime fighting after helping to solve the murder of Samantha Bodsworth.
30. Ten Thousand Acres
Aired 29 August 2005 • 30 min
When a light plane crash in 1987 took away Maree Stockman's husband, her son and her father-in-law, she was left with a choice: to take her three young daughters and leave the family farm or stay and plough on.
31. Out of the Dust
Aired 5 September 2005 • 30 min
Twenty-five years after a road accident took the life of her younger brother Ben along with seven other young people, Dani Haski reunited the families of those affected and made the trip back to Bourke for a poignant memorial.
32. The Guns of Adjungbilly - Part 1
Aired 12 September 2005 • 30 min
NSW Police involved in the siege at Jim Hallinan's property near Tumut four and a half years ago speak out for the first time.
33. The Guns of Adjungbilly - Part 2
Aired 19 September 2005 • 30 min
The conclusion to the story of the siege at Jim Hallinan's property at Adjungbilly near Tumut in NSW.
34. The Lost Boy
Aired 26 September 2005 • 30 min
Ian Roberts is best known for being the first footballer in Australia to 'come out' as a gay man.
35. A Night Like This
Aired 3 October 2005 • 30 min
Four popular and talented veterans of Australian Story get together to stage a once in a lifetime concert.
36. Dead Man Talking
Aired 10 October 2005 • 30 min
When a crooked detective rolled over at a major royal commission into police corruption a decade ago, it sent shockwaves through every police force in the country.
37. Leaving Lucy
Aired 17 October 2005 • 30 min
Much to the horror of her close-knit family, Kate Holden went from a comfortable middle-class home in Melbourne to the netherworld of drugs and commercial sex.
38. Wolf at the Door
Aired 24 October 2005 • 30 min
John Jarratt, veteran of nearly 40 films and TV programs in Australia, is finally hitting the big time with his performance in a small budget horror movie wowing audiences around the world.
39. Terms of Imprisonment
Aired 31 October 2005 • 30 min
In July Heather Osland was released from Victoria's Tarrengower Prison and for the first time tells of the violence and fear that she and her children suffered before her husband died, what happened the night of his death and about taking her first steps in forging a new life...
40. Sons of Beaches
Aired 7 November 2005 • 30 min
Koby Abberton escapes a troubled childhood to become one of the world's most successful big wave surfers.