ABC Rewind

When journalist Annika Blau learns of the discovery of two tea chests of highly valuable letters under the floorboards of an old Sydney home, she begins to uncover secrets, silences and shame from a chapter of Australia's history some would prefer to forget.

When two tea chests full of letters are found under a house in Sydney, they're identified as one of the most important finds in Australia's postal history. But for journalist Annika Blau, they also expose family secrets, silences and shame, as more startling truths are revealed about who her family really is and where they come from. 

Join wheelchair racing legend Louise Sauvage for the intriguing history of The Paralympics. The games had their beginnings back in 1948 as life-saving rehabilitation for World War 2 soldiers but today have become an elite sporting event watched by millions. Along that journey Australia radically changed the way the world saw athletes with a disability by treating them equally to the Olympic competitors at the Sydney 2000 games. Louise introduces us to some Australian sportspeople with remarkable stories. Aboriginal wheelchair basketball player Kevin Coombs who went to five Paralympic games; wheelchair table tennis star and backbone of the Australian athlete community Danni di Toro and Ryley Batt who stubbornly refused to use a wheelchair as a child but is now a rugby champion.Presenter - Louise SauvageProducer - Sarah AllelySound designer - Russell StapletonSupervising producer - Claudia TarantoFor a deeper dive into the history of the Paralympics check out the podcast series Unbroken.

Gold medal winning Paralympian and coach Louise Sauvage tells the controversial story of classification at the Paralympics and the fallout from Spanish intellectually impaired basketballers who faked their disability at the Sydney 2000 games. We meet champion swimmer Siobhan Paton whose dreams of winning future medals were shattered when all the intellectual disability categories were cancelled.An advertising campaign at the London 2012 Paralympics portrayed competitors as superhuman and kickstarted a change in visibility and respect for all disabled people. Today the games and some competitors attract big money and sponsorship deals but wheelchair racer Angie Ballard reminds us that it’s still a physical and financial struggle for many.

In the final episode of Anzac Massacre,  host William Ray delves into the unanswered questions surrounding the killings at Surafend, in Southern Palestine  by the Anzac Mounted Division in December 1918. What motivated this brutal act?

In part two of this series, host William Ray unravels the story of the Surafend massacre in December 1918, and the events which followed it - including the little known role that the Anzacs played in suppressing the 1919 Egyptian revolution.

The story of the Surafend massacre of December 1918, an event described by one historian as the worst war crime ever committed by  New Zealand and Australian military personnel.

It’s 1994 and fugitive billionaire tycoon Christopher Skase lies in a Majorcan hospital bed under police guard. A Spanish court has ordered he is well enough to be extradited back to Australia to face corporate crime charges. But Skase is appealing. When the decision finally comes, it’s a shock.

Jake Morecambe, a producer and expert on the Christopher Skase saga, dives deep into the drama surrounding Lawrence van der Plaat, Skase's right-hand man. Jake reveals how Lawrence's disillusionment grew amid mismanagement at Halcyon and intimidation tactics as he tried to leave Skase's orbit. They discuss the critical evidence Lawrence brought to regulators and his harrowing demands for cooperation. The podcast explores Skase’s elaborate attempts to evade extradition, including health claims and courtroom theatrics, painting a vivid picture of this high-stakes chase.

In April 1989, Christopher Skase made a shocking $1.2 billion bid for MGM—without the funds to back it up. The podcast dives into the lavish yet doomed empire of Quintex, revealing the chaotic fallout of debt and corporate malpractice. Tensions escalated when Rupert Murdoch outbid Skase, triggering a market panic. As investigations began, Skase attempted to evade scrutiny and engaged in questionable financial maneuvers. The story unfolds with his dramatic escape plans and the media frenzy that ensued, showcasing a lavish lifestyle spiraling into criminal controversy.