Episode
60 Minutes Australia: 2013-10-20
Overview
Chopper Dolly Chopper Just 16 days before he died, Tara Brown sat down with Mark 'Chopper' Read for his last ever interview. It quickly became a confessional in which he admitted in graphic detail to murdering four men. Dolly Dolly Parton is a show business superstar. So much about her is unreal - the cosmetic surgery, the wigs, the false eyelashes and fingernails. But when Ray Martin met her in Nashville Tennessee, he found her to be real and honest.
Details
- Series
- 60 Minutes Australia
- Season
- Season 2013
- Episode
- Episode 35
- Air date
- 2013-10-20
Episode context
2013-10-20 is Episode 35 in Season 2013 of 60 Minutes Australia. It aired on 2013-10-20.
Previous / Next
Episode 33: 2013-09-29
Fatal Call
The Girl
Curse of the Bounty
Fatal Call
Sarah Durazza was a 26 year old woman, with the world at her feet. She was a beautiful Miss World runner up, who was devoted to charity and helping those less fortunate than herself. Last month, upset and emotional, Sarah got behind the wheel of her car. Then she made a phone call. Sarah was distracted, distressed and, in a split second, out of control. When she careered off the road and slammed into a tree, she was on the phone to her mother. Fiona Durazza will forever be haunted by the sound of her daughter’s final, terrible moments. This Sunday, the Durazza family are speaking out, in the hope Sarah’s death will mean something. It’s a raw and powerful plea, from a family heartbroken by their loss.
Reporter: Karl Stefanovic
Producers: Steve Jackson, Lincoln Howes
The Girl
It was one off the biggest scandals in the world. In 1977, Hollywood director and producer Roman Polanski drugged and raped a 13 year old girl, at the home of actor Jack Nicholson. The story made international headlines and when he fled America to avoid sentencing, it only got bigger. 36 years later, US authorities are still trying to bring Roman Polanski to justice. His 13 year old victim was Samantha Geimer. She’s never forgotten what happened to her all those years ago. This Sunday, Samantha tells her story. What she has to say is difficult, challenging and most definitely not what you might expect.
Reporter: Liz Hayes
Producer: Phil Goyen
Curse of the Bounty
All great stories of the sea tend to end in disaster, usually involving reckless human error in which people take the sea for granted. Such is the story of HMS Bounty. The first Bounty was burned to the water line off Pitcairn Island by Fletcher Christian, after history’s most famous mutiny. The second Bounty was a twentieth century replica, built for the 1962 movie starring Marlon Brando. Last year, it too sank, after deliberately sailing straight into Hurricane Sandy – one of the worst storms ever recorded. It was an unbelievable decision on the part of her skipper. One of the crew to perish was Claudene Christian, a descendant of the original mutineer, Fletcher. The Captain also went down with his ship, leaving behind many unanswered questions about his actions on that fateful voyage.
Reporter: Charles Wooley
Producer: Nick Greenaway
Episode 36: 2013-10-13
Seventh Heaven
Face of Evil
Nuclear Paradise
Seventh Heaven
How does Philip Sharp manage it? He’s got seven wives. They’ve borne him 18 children. Life in the Sharp household is busy, to say the least. Philip is polygamous and proud of it. In fact, the British Rabbi even claims that by reviving the long outlawed practice of taking several wives, he’s merely doing God’s work. And he’d take 100 wives if it would help build God’s kingdom. It raises all sorts of uncomfortable questions for the wives, not to mention the chaos of raising all those kids, but what Peter Overton discovered was a harmonious household most families would envy.
Reporter: Peter Overton
Producer: Jo Townsend
Face of Evil
In 2010, Australian girl Zahra Baker was brutally murdered by her American step mother. Zahra, with the bright eyes and big smile, had survived cancer and overcome much more than should be asked of any 10 year old. Then, along with her father Adam, she travelled to America. Adam’s new wife, Elisa Baker, first killed and then dismembered Zahra in the most heinous crime. At her trial, she entered into a plea bargain, meaning she never had to face questions about what she did and why she did it. This Sunday, Liz Hayes goes inside maximum security to confront a child killer and comes face to face with evil.
Reporter: Liz Hayes
Producer: Phil Goyen
Nuclear Paradise
The Montebello Islands off the coast of Western Australia are so far flung, so off the beaten track, that most of us have no idea they’re even part of Australia. Which is exactly why the British chose them as a site to conduct nuclear bomb tests back in the 1950s. The British Navy detonated three massive atomic bombs and, in the process, obliterated a marine paradise. More than 60 years later, you’d expect to find a scorched wasteland. Instead, it’s one of nature’s most breathtaking comebacks.
Reporter: Allison Langdon
Producer: Howard Sacre
More episodes from this season
Episode 32: 2013-09-22
Testing Times Abducted TWA 800 Testing Times Right now across the country one million students, their parents and teachers are sweating on the NAPLAN results – the national numeracy and literacy tests. NAPLAN began in 2008 to compare all students across the country and better help those who are falling behind. We adopted the idea from New York, where teachers are promoted or sacked on the back of the results, but we haven’t done that here and, instead, the pressure falls on the students to perform. Teachers here claim NAPLAN retards growth and restricts creativity. A NAPLAN revolt is underway, with one principal even likening the tests to child abuse. Reporter: Ray Martin Producer: David Alrich Abducted It’s hard to forget the traumatic scene – as four young girls were dragged kicking and screaming from their mother and put on a plane home to Italy. It was the culmination of a most extraordinary battle between Australian mum Laura Garrett and her Italian husband Tommaso Vincenti.
Episode 37: 2013-11-03
Sleeping Giant
In Their Footsteps
Saving Petra
Lifehouse
Sleeping Giant
Mountains aren’t usually known for their role in making and preserving history. But when Mount Vesuvius erupted two thousand years ago – it did just that. The volcano’s downpour of ash was so quick it destroyed the ancient city of Pompeii and caught its people in a moment in time. However, the destructive power of Vesuvius is not consigned to the history books. Today, it threatens the city of Naples – home to three million Italians. They know that when Vesuvius next explodes, there will be very little warning.
Reporter: Allison Langdon
Producer: Gareth Harvey
In Their Footsteps
Tim Jarvis is one of the world’s most fearless adventurers who recreates great exploits of the past. He strides out bravely in the footsteps of Scott, Mawson and, now, Ernest Shackleton. Tim’s challenges are painstakingly authentic right down to the awful food and the ancient clothing worn by his historical heroes. And like so many giants of the past, he’d rather die than fail.
Reporter: Charles Wooley
Producer: Nick Greenaway
Saving Petra
Tucked away in a hidden valley in Jordan, is one of the wonders of the world. Carved into a mountainside, Petra, has survived for two and a half thousand years. Its popularity soared off the back of the Indiana Jones movies but, now, the “Rose City” has become too popular for its own good and archaeologists fear it will be lost forever. Luckily, there’s a Jordanian Princess who’s making it her life’s work to save Petra.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producer: Stephen Taylor
Lifehouse
It’s been four years since Australia lost the much loved and respected Professor Chris O’Brien. It was a cruel twist of fate: the life-saving cancer surgeon became a cancer victim. Even in the final stages of his life, Chris never gave up on his grand vision for a world-class, cancer centre. Next week, The Chris O’Brien Lifehouse will be officially opened and 60 Minutes was given an exclusive first look.
Reporter: Peter Overton
Producer: Ali Smith
Episode 31: 2013-09-15
Justice for Kiesha
Urban Myth
JFK
Justice for Kiesha
It’s often said the bond between a mother and her child is unbreakable. Which is why it seems inexplicable when a child is killed by the person who should love them the most. Such is the case of 6-year-old Kiesha Weippeart – her brief, tortured life was punctuated by physical, emotional and psychological abuse of the worst kind. For the public, this story began in August 2010, when Kristi Abrahams – Kiesha’s mother – made a teary plea, claiming her daughter had been abducted from the family home. We now know this was nothing more than a gruesome hoax for the cameras. Behind the scenes, a dedicated team of investigators began the task of finding out what really happened to little Kiesha. For the first time this Sunday, 60 Minutes will broadcast the police interviews with Kristi Abrahams and reveal how detectives began to unravel the most horrific truth, which will haunt them for the rest of their lives.
Reporter: Liz Hayes
Producer: Steven Burling
Urban Myth
From the age of six, Keith Urban wanted to be a country music star but it still took 20 years for the kid from Caboolture to crack the big time. There were many speed bumps along the way: drugs, alcohol and a whole lot of rejection. Then everything started to click for Keith – hit singles, marriage to Nicole Kidman and kids. But it wasn’t until his appearance on The Voice that we Aussies really began to know – and like – Keith Urban. Despite all this time in the public spotlight, he’s still an enigma. So when Tara Brown caught up him with on tour in America, she was happily surprised to find a man ready to let his guard down.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producer: Stephen Rice
JFK
Few historical moments of the last century are as powerful, or as visceral, as the assassination of American President John F Kennedy. It may be difficult to imagine in these hardened political times but JFK was much more than a politician. He was a star, a beacon of hope for the future. Of course, all that was shattered when he was gunned down in Dallas, Texas on November 22 1963. As we approach the 50th anniversary of that shocking day, anyone old enough will no doubt recall that moment with vivid clarity. But none more so than the bodyguard who still can’t forgive himself for failing to save the President’s life. Clint Hill was the agent seen scrambling onto the back of the President’s car after he was shot. On 60 Minutes, he’ll retrace his steps, actions and feelings on the day the world lost its innocence.
Reporter: Charles Wooley
Producer: Nick Greenaway
Episode 38: 2013-11-10
Chloe’s Law
Island of Youth
Julia Morris
Trail Blaiser
Chloe’s Law
Chloe Fergusson was just like any other 15 year old girl – she loved hanging out with her friends, talking about boys and she was always on Facebook. Like so many teenagers, Chloe knew what it meant to be bullied. For years, she’d endured verbal and physical assaults but when Chloe went home and shut her bedroom door, the bullies were still there. Because the latest, possibly greatest, weapon in bullying is social media. For Chloe, the impact was devastating. Last month, she took her own life. It’s left her friends and family shattered and now her sister Cassie is on a one-woman crusade to make bullying a crime.
Reporter: Allison Langdon
Producer: Ali Smith
Island of Youth
Liz Hayes has just visited a very special island. It’s a magical place where people live longer than anyone else on earth. They’re also happier and healthier. They have lower rates of cancer and heart disease and no dementia. So how do so many people live to be 100 and still tend their olive trees, drink lots of red wine and dance the night away? This Sunday, they reveal their secrets and you’ll be very surprised by what they say.
Reporter: Liz Hayes
Producer: Stephen Rice
Julia Morris
It’s fair to say that Julia Morris is no overnight success. For more than 20 years she has plied her trade, from stand-up to sketch comedy. In Hollywood she was told she was “too big” to be an actress but not big enough for the “larger” roles. Despite setbacks and heartache, Julia’s self-belief and determination to succeed has meant that at the age of 45, she’s now starring in a hit TV drama and hosting a national variety show. But just as things were looking up, Julia had another setback; her real life house husband was diagnosed with breast cancer. Peter Overton profiles a most remarkable woman.
Reporter: Peter Overton
Producer: Steven Burling
Trail Blaiser
Blaise Wyatt is not your typical hero. He was born with severe cerebral palsy. His parents were told he’d never walk. Doctors said he wouldn’t even sit up or roll over. But thanks to a controversial new treatment, he’s shown us that courage comes in many shapes and sizes. Earlier this year, we all held our breath as Blaise took his first few tiny steps. Now, we’re thrilled to report that his progress hasn’t stopped at those few halting paces. Blaise is free of his leg splints, standing tall, and walking on his own two feet.
Reporter: Peter Overton
Producer: Jo Townsend
Episode 30: 2013-09-08
Killer Cure
Flyin' Ryan
Alicia Keys
Killer Cure
Imagine doctors saying they’ve found a cure for childhood cancer. Not some quackery, but a genuine cure. Well, that’s what researchers are on the verge of right now – perhaps one of the greatest medical breakthroughs of the 21st century. But it’s only the start of this amazing medical story. Because this treatment uses one of the most notorious killers of our time – the dreaded H-I-V. It is a killer cure that parents of desperately sick children are hailing as a miracle. And with a little more science, it might just beat all cancers for good.
Reporter: Ray Martin
Producer: David Alrich
Flyin’ Ryan
True adventure is hard to come by these days. The world’s become a smaller place and great journeys of discovery are rare. Which makes 19-year-old Ryan Campbell even more extraordinary. While other teenagers rarely venture from their bedrooms, Ryan has just returned from an epic airborne adventure that took him around the world. For the last 10 weeks, Charles Wooley has followed this determined young man’s quest to become the youngest person in history to fly solo around the globe. And on Saturday, the conquering hero will achieve this remarkable feat.
Reporter: Charles Wooley
Producer: Lincoln Howes
Alicia Keys
One of the greatest compliments you can pay Alicia Keys is to say she isn’t as flamboyant as Lady Gaga or as attention-seeking as Miley Cyrus. Alicia prefers to let her singing do the talking and currently she’s hitting all the high notes. It’s a great triumph because, over the years, Alicia has suffered breakdowns and struggled to handle the pressure of stardom. But no more. The Alicia Keys Allison Langdon met in New York is a changed woman – confident, relaxed and a whole lot of fun.
Reporter: Allison Langdon
Producer: Stephen Taylor
Episode 39: 2013-11-17
Space Oddity
Life after Death
Lucky Betty
Space Oddity
44 years after man set foot on the moon, we’ve almost got a bit blasé about space travel. Astronauts, once galactic rock-stars, have all but disappeared from public view. But then Chris Hadfield came along. He’s been to space three times – including 6 months as Commander of the International Space Station. Chris dazzled kids and adults alike with his youtube clips of space experiments and before coming back to Earth, he recorded a breathtaking music clip that’s made him the greatest space salesman of all time. Come along for the ride as Chris Hadfield talks about soaring over the Australian outback, recording David Bowie’s famous hit, and opens up about his role in the Columbia disaster.
Reporter: Michael Usher
Producer: Phil Goyen
Life after Death
As science and technology rapidly advance, we’re being faced with greater ethical dilemmas. Now it’s about life after death. You see, there’s a 36 hour window after a man dies, when his sperm remains viable, and if extracted, can be used to conceive a baby. You need a court order to retrieve the sperm, and then a Judge needs to approve its use. Liz Hayes has just met two women desperate to have children to their dearly departed. It’s the new frontier of reproductive technology, but one our courts, and our conscience, are yet to resolve.
Reporter: Liz Hayes
Producer: Hannah Boocock
Lucky Betty
There’s no one in the world quite like Betty Klimenko. Her life began in the grimy cell of a Sydney police station. She was born dependent on drugs, abandoned by her biological mother after just seven weeks. Then Betty was adopted by a holocaust survivor. His name was John Saunders, and along with Frank Lowy, started the giant Westfield shopping empire. These days Betty is a tattooed billionaire, with a passion for V8 racing cars. So strap yourselves in, for one heck of a ride!
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producer: Stephen Taylor
Episode 29: 2013-09-01
Smarty Pants Allergy Free A Mother's Pain Smarty Pants Women will understand this story straight away… but blokes may be left slightly bewildered. Sara Blakely is the creator of Spanx and by making bums look beautiful, she's made herself a billionaire. Like all good ideas, it started very simply. Sara didn't like the way she looked in a tight white pair of pants, so she went about trying to hide the bad bits and shape the rest. Now, as Allison Langdon discovers, women all over the world are giving thanks for Spanx and Sara has more money than she can count. Reporter: Allison Langdon Producer: Stephen Taylor Allergy Free Childhood allergies are frightening and they're getting worse. One in 10 kids born in Australia has a food allergy - one of the highest rates in the world. If your child is affected, it takes over your life. You're forced to navigate around family meals, school lunches and birthday parties - knowing one tiny speck could be fatal.
Episode 40: 2013-11-24
World Exclusive: Off the Wall
The Somerton Man
Gentle Giants
Finnan’s Legacy
World Exclusive: Off the Wall
Conrad Murray is the man who killed Michael Jackson. He was also Jackson’s personal doctor, who was paid $150,000 a month to keep his star patient healthy. In 2011 a jury found Conrad Murray guilty of involuntary manslaughter, convinced he gave the pop star a lethal dose of Propofol, a sedative usually only used in surgery. Conrad Murray spent two years in prison for his crime and has just been released. This Sunday for the first time he tells his story about what happened that night, and reveals surprising thoughts on Michael Jackson’s controversial life.
Reporter: Liz Hayes
Producer: Phil Goyen
The Somerton Man
We all know that fact is stranger than fiction and that’s very much the case with this story. It’s the true tale of espionage, a love affair and murder – that wouldn’t be out of place in the movies. The year was 1948. Communism and democracy were wrestling for world supremacy. The nuclear arms race was in high gear. And there were spies everywhere, even in Australia. Against this sinister backdrop, an unidentified body was found on Adelaide’s Somerton Beach – the so-called Somerton Man. Now, 65 years after he was buried, there are moves to exhume him, in an attempt to finally solve this lingering Cold War Mystery. This Sunday, 60 Minutes will reveal for the first time the identity of the mysterious nurse who was romantically linked to the Somerton man, and talk to the woman who claims she’s the Somerton Man’s granddaughter.
Reporter: Charles Wooley
Producer: Steve Jackson
Gentle Giants
They’re the biggest fish in the ocean – and one of the biggest targets for fishermen around the world. The whale shark is massive, magnificent and on the brink of extinction, but in a tiny corner of the Philippines, man and shark have come to a unique compromise. Fishermen who used to hunt this marine giant, now protect it – reaping a financial bonanza from tourists. And everything was going swimmingly, until a group of Western environmentalists showed up.
Reporter: Allison Langdon
Producer: Gareth Harvey
Finnan’s Legacy
What should have been the happiest time for Olympic gold medallist Alisa Camplin, turned into tragedy two and a half years ago. She and husband Oliver became proud first time parents, but baby Finnan was born with congenital heart disease, and despite his extraordinary will to live, died after just ten days. Alisa and Olly were inconsolable. They were also inspired by their son, and determined to make his short life meaningful. Today Finnan’s legacy lives on with a wonderful charity that donates money and medical equipment to the Melbourne Hospital which looked after him. And there’s some good news for Alisa and Olly – they’ve had a baby girl!
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producer: Stephen Taylor
Episode 28: 2013-08-25
Turia Pitt The Humpback Crude Solution Turia Pitt In 2011, Turia Pitt set out to compete in an ultra marathon across the harsh Kimberley region. A few hours later she would be fighting for her life, after suffering horrific burns when a bushfire trapped her and other competitors on the side of a hill. 60 Minutes has followed every step of Turia’s recovery. She’s undergone 16 grueling operations. Her boyfriend Michael, has been with her all the way. Now it’s time for Turia to remove her mask for good. This is a story of love, courage and inspiration. But sadly, there’s a dark side to this story. Turia still has not been able to hold the organisers of the doomed race to account. Despite damning findings by the Western Australian Government, Racing the Planet has refused to accept liability, or offer Turia adequate compensation for what will be decades of ongoing treatment and rehabilitation.
Episode 41: 2013-12-01
Toxic Flyer
Pain Free
Big Blue
Death Defying
Toxic Flyer
For some people, flying is an anxious white-knuckle ride as they carry a pressing fear that the aircraft will crash. But there’s another risk that may be far greater, which affects us all. It’s called Aerotoxic Syndrome and it’s caused by breathing contaminated cabin air. Some experts are calling it the asbestos of the airline industry – it can result in a range of serious health problems, even death. But what’s most shocking is the way aircraft manufacturers and operators have known about the problem for years and have done nothing about it.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producer: Gareth Harvey
Pain Free
Imagine not being able to feel any pain. That’s the case for two amazing young girls called Ashlyn and Gabby. When they hit their head, they don’t feel a thing, bang their arm and it doesn’t even register – they can even cut themselves and feel nothing at all. The idea of being pain free sounds extraordinary but when you hear their stories you might change your mind. And, ironically, their condition just may lead to a breakthrough for those who suffer chronic pain.
Reporter: Liz Hayes
Producer: Phil Goyen
Big Blue
It’s difficult to imagine the size of a blue whale until you come alongside one. They are the biggest creature to have ever lived. But as big as they are, we know precious little about them. Hunted almost to extinction just a few decades ago, we’re now missing vital information about how to protect the blue whale. Karl Stefanovic spent a week searching the turquoise waters of the Maldives for these magnificent beasts, along with a group of Aussie scientists desperate to save them.
Reporter: Karl Stefanovic
Producer: Hannah Boocock
Death Defying
It was the comedy hit of 2011. The Hang Over Part II grossed $600 million at the box office. But behind the scenes the laughs turned to tragedy when Aussie Scott McLean was nearly killed in a stunt that went terribly wrong. Scott fought hard to stay alive and spent thousands of hours in rehab trying to get his life back on track. Two years later he returned to thank the doctors who saved him.
Reporter: Peter Overton
Producer: Hannah Boocock