Australian Story Season 15, Episode 13: The Night Before Christmas

1

Summer Series Edition - Doctor In The House

Dr Michael Buist is an intensive care specialist with a unique perspective from both sides of the hospital curtain who's now emerged as a world leader in the push to improve patient care.

30 min

2

Summer Series Edition - My Name Is Jack

Radio and TV personality Ian 'Dano' Rogerson and his wife Nicole gave up their home, careers and an exciting lifestyle for the love of their son, Jack.

30 min

3

Summer Series Edition - The Big Deal

Ric Richardson is an inventor who took on the might of Microsoft and scored a remarkable victory.

30 min

4

Summer Series Edition - Fly With Me

Dylan Parker makes and flies paper planes and he has become one of the very best in the world.

30 min

5

Summer Series Edition - Unfinished Business

Ian Conway is a man determined to make a difference. Twenty years ago he made a promise to an Aboriginal elder. It was a big promise and for years he was haunted by the fact that he hadn't delivered.

30 min

6

The Story of Samuel

Behind the scenes Red Symons and his family have been on a journey with their eldest son Samuel that no one could wish for.

30 min

7

Something In The Water (Part 1)

A GP, a group of oyster farmers and a Sydney scientist banded together to investigate mysterious water quality issues in one of the most beautiful areas of Tasmania.

30 min

8

Something In The Water (Part 2)

The compelling conclusion to our story about a GP and a Sydney scientist who teamed up to investigate a water contamination issue near Tasmania's famous Bay of Fires.

30 min

9

Watch Over Me

As a little boy, Glenn Scott dreamed of becoming a motorcycle champion… just like his heroes Mick Doohan and Casey Stoner.

30 min

10

When Words Fail

Young Sydney musician Lachlan McCarthy's determination to escape the twin demons of poverty and a tragedy involving his father, sees him become the first in his family to finish high school and go to university.

30 min

11

Becoming Jangala

From Perth policeman to a life of high fashion and celebrity in New York, Russell James is one of the world's most influential fashion photographers who is now working in Australia on an art collaboration with Aboriginal artist Clifton Bieundurry.

30 min

12

Call Of The Wild

Emerging from a troubled childhood, self-made coffee millionaire, Kenton Campbell has led a life of extremes. He fulfilled the 'rags to riches' American dream here in Australia, only to find that success left him empty.

30 min

13

The Night Before Christmas

Graham Stafford served almost fifteen years in jail for a crime he has always claimed he did not commit. Since his release four years ago, he has continued to argue his innocence and seek redress from the legal system that incarcerated him.

30 min

14

Children Of A Lesser God

Tara Winkler was just twenty-two when she established the Cambodian Children's Trust in Cambodia. She is now 'mother', mentor and older sister to twenty-seven orphans, some as young as two.

30 min

15

Dumb And Dumber

It was hailed as possibly the most inept bank robbery of all time and it made headlines around the world. One of the robbers, Anthony Prince, is back home in Byron Bay, much chastened and speaking for the first time...

30 min

16

In My Little Town

Two years ago the harmony of rural life in a small township in Central Victoria was ripped apart after a fatal car accident involving five young friends.

30 min

17

Woman On A Mission

Until last year, Meagen Nay was known as the 19 year old swimmer treading the same path as her Olympian father, Robert. Then fate dealt a second tragic blow in an already painful life story...

30 min

18

Mad World

Chris 'Douggs' McDougall - free spirit, thrill-seeker or lawbreaker? This BASE jumping pioneer challenges convention and embodies the true definition of 'fearless'.

30 min

19

Proof Of Life

In August 2008, Bundaberg photojournalist Nigel Brennan was kidnapped in Somalia, along with Canadian reporter Amanda Lindhout. Last year, the Brennan family became players in the shadowy world of international kidnap and ransom.

30 min

20

Sting in the Tale

The murder of one of Australia’s foremost bee experts, Tony Knight, baffled police until a fortuitous event exposed a suspect with a sinister motive.

30 min

21

The Blue Beret (Part 1)

Part One charts the remarkable in combat experiences of highly decorated female soldier, Matina Jewell, but raises serious concerns about the conditions she faced when wearing the blue beret as a UN peacekeeper.

30 min

22

The Blue Beret (Part 2)

Part Two explores the ongoing battle Matina Jewell faced at home in Australia once it became clear her days as a career soldier were over.

30 min

23

The Company of Men

When Dianne Brimble died mysteriously aboard the Pacific Sky cruise liner in 2002, her family was left to mourn the loss of a beloved mother, wife, sister and daughter. It also began a seven and a half year battle for answers by the two men who had shared her life.

30 min

24

Heaven Sent

Peter Roberts, an accomplished musician, gave up a lucrative career as a businessman to retrain overseas at his own expense to become Australia's only music thanatologist.

30 min

25

She Who Waits

With prescient timing, an in depth look at the woman who has just made history by becoming Australia’s first female Prime Minister.

30 min

26

Pay it Forward

'Pay it Forward' is a marvellously inspirational tale of sportsmanship, mentoring and redemption across three generations of Australian Rules Football. At the centre of it all is a young man called David Conway.

30 min

27

Ticket to Tigray

Wanting to build a better world and keen to offer his skills as a water technician, Shane Dolan signed up with Community Aid Abroad and embarked for the war torn province of Tigray, in Ethiopia.

30 min

28

Blowing In The Wind

Kiff Saunders had spent most of his professional life airborne at the helm of a hot air balloon. But despite the heights of his success, he was becoming increasingly disenchanted with the air up there.

30 min

29

Mum's The Word

After her oldest son announced that he was gay, Shelley Argent was spurred to action. Now she's the national spokesperson for the international organisation PFLAG and a 'gay icon' in her own right...

30 min

30

It's a Long Way There

Glenn Wheatley is an undisputed legend of the entertainment industry. He's guided the careers of huge stars like John Farnham, Delta Goodrem and the Little River Band.

30 min

31

Unfathomable (Part 1)

It's seven years since a young American bride, Tina Watson, died during a honeymoon scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef. Her husband Gabe was accused of murder and was eventually convicted and jailed for manslaughter.

30 min

32

Unfathomable (Part 2)

The conclusion to our story about young American bride Tina Watson who died seven years ago during a honeymoon dive trip on the Great Barrier Reef.

30 min

33

Our New Selection

Van Rudd is an artist who ran in Julia Gillard's seat as an independent backed by the new but tiny Socialist Revolutionary Party.

30 min

34

Labor Of Love

From homeless teenager to the youngest ever leader of Australia's oldest union, Paul Howes is living a life accelerated.

30 min

35

Hit the Road Jack

Jack Heath shocked his family and friends by turning his back on a promising political career to establish an innovative not-for-profit organisation committed to supporting and inspiring troubled youth.

30 min

36

Into the Forest

Fourteen years ago Ivan Milat was convicted of one of Australia's most infamous serial killings. His victims were seven young backpackers whose bodies were found in the Belanglo State Forest, south of Sydney.

30 min

37

Prisoner of War (Part 1)

Working in Afghanistan and Iraq for Time Magazine and then CNN, Michael Ware willingly went where no other reporter could or would.

30 min

38

Prisoner of War (Part 2)

In this compelling conclusion, Michael Ware reveals the real cost to his psyche of all that he's witnessed for so long.

30 min

39

The Wronged Man (Part 1)

Andrew Mallard was a young man living homeless on the streets of Perth when he was charged with the murder of Pamela Lawrence. He was convicted of her murder in 1995.

30 min

40

The Wronged Man (Part 2)

The conclusion to the story of Andrew Mallard who was wrongfully convicted of the murder of Perth woman Pamela Lawrence in 1995.

30 min

41

Animal Farm

Jan Cameron has channelled her formidable energies and bank balance towards a new cause in the hope she can influence the way factory farmed animals are treated in Australia.

30 min

42

Woman On A Mission

Fresh off the plane from the Delhi, Meagen Nay updates our original program to explain how success has changed her...

30 min

43

You're The Voice

An intimate profile of the enigmatic Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu featuring behind the scenes footage shot by filmmaker Naina Sen, combined with interviews from his family and unofficial spokesperson Michael Hohnen.

30 min

44

The Farmer Wants a Life

After coming out on a national TV reality show in 2006, David Graham is attempting to reconcile his sexuality with his desire to be a farmer, a father and a force within the National Party.

30 min

45

The Graduate

When Kerry Tucker was jailed for seven years for theft and fraud she turned incarceration into an opportunity and is now a successful academic with a PhD and a job at a leading university...

30 min