Since its inception in the early 1880s, Broken Hill has been a thriving mining boomtown. Its prosperity attracted able-bodied workers from across the region, quickly transforming the town into a bustling hub of activity. As its success grew, Broken Hill also became a key trading centre. Camel trains regularly passed through, using the town as a base along major inland trade routes. At the height of the camel train era, Broken Hill was home to two of the largest cameleer camps in Australia. Among those drawn to Broken Hill was a young man named Frank Bottrill, who arrived in the late 1880s to work in the mines. While there, he witnessed the struggles of camels burdened with heavy loads. Moved by compassion for the animals, Frank resolved to find a solution. His vision took shape in the form of a massive, innovative traction engine—armoured with metal plates and fitted with wheels reminiscent of modern military tanks. Join us this week as we explore the history of Broken Hill, the camel trains that once powered inland trade, and the remarkable young man who set out to make a difference.

In the early 20th century, England and Australia produced some of the world’s greatest pioneering aviators. Among them were Amy Johnson, the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia, and C. W. A. Scott (Charles William Anderson Scott), a record-breaking pilot whose daring flights captured global attention. Their stories are marked by courage, determination, and astonishing leaps of faith. Nearly a century after Scott’s record flight, the very de Havilland Gipsy Moth he flew was painstakingly restored and returned to one of his original landing sites in Brisbane. Join Gary Kent as he shares the inspiring journeys of these pioneering aviators and the remarkable story of a Gipsy Moth that made history.

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.

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.

On Christmas Eve, 1953, New Zealand’s holiday celebrations were shattered by tragedy. The Wellington to Auckland night express, filled with passengers eager to be home for Christmas, was making its way north when disaster struck. A lahar (volcanic mudflow) had swept away the Tangiwai Rail Bridge, plunging the train into the raging Whangaehu River below. The result was catastrophic — lives were lost, and the nation was left in shock.

It was one of the darkest moments in New Zealand’s history. At the time, it ranked as the eighth-deadliest rail disaster in the world and captured international headlines. With a population of just over two million, nearly everyone in the country knew someone affected. The fact that it occurred on Christmas Eve only deepened the collective sorrow. To this day, it remains far more than a local railway accident — it is a national tragedy.

Join Gary Kent as he explores the story of the Tangiwai disaster, uncovering its profound impact on the people involved and the country as a whole. In the midst of grief and loss, perhaps we too can find comfort and strength as we reflect on how to navigate sorrow and hardship in our own lives.

The value of the global trade of goods today is approximately 30 trillion US dollars. That’s 83 billion dollars per day of goods being transported all over the world across land, air, and sea. But trade is nothing new. In ancient times, trade began as a barter system in which people exchanged one object for another. People traded animal skins or services for food, weapons, clothing, and spices. Some primitive societies even used shells or pearls as currency, but during the 18th century, coins and money currencies became more prominent.

Trade has boomed over the last two centuries to the point where we are all involved in it every day of our lives. Most of us regularly trade in the local supermarket, where we can find almost anything we need in one place rather than having to visit multiple stores. It’s made shopping so much more convenient. These self-service super shops offer a wide variety of food, beverages, and household products under one roof. They offer a huge range of brands and product types. In fact, on average, there are around 40K items in the store. The main supermarkets in Australia are Woolworths, Coles, IGA, and Aldi.

But have you ever wondered how they began? So, how did one of Australia’s largest supermarket chains begin? Well, Gary Kent, as we follow in the footsteps of Sir George James Coles, a businessman and philanthropist, who changed how we shop, do business, and live. His story will amaze and inspire you.

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.

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 the Legend and his incredible journey.