Episodes
Port Arthur
On a crisp autumn morning at Port Arthur's historic convict settlement, a gunman walked into the Broad Arrow Cafe, killing 35 people. We go deep inside the experience, hearing from first hand witnesses to understand what it was like to live it.
Boxing Day Tsunami
A massive earthquake below the Indian Ocean unleashed the deadliest tsunami in recorded history, killing 230,000 people across 14 countries. Those who were swept up in the wave had no idea of its scale, only of the devastation that unfolded before their eyes.
Nicky Winmar
It's a day etched into Australian sporting folklore for all the wrong reasons. A moment on a footy field where Nicky Winmar, a proud Noongar man, called out racism.
The Beatles
When The Beatles flew into Adelaide, they had no idea that the biggest crowd they would ever witness was waiting for them. Fans describe the life-changing experience of seeing the biggest band in the world arrive.
Woomera
A demonstration against indefinite mandatory detention at Woomera detention centre attracted more than a thousand concerned citizens from all over the country. But the protest took an unexpected turn.
Beaconsfield
The final episode in the series takes us to the small Tasmanian mining village of Beaconsfield. When a mine collapse killed Larry Knight and trapped two others, Todd Russell and Brant Webb managed to survive.
Black Saturday Fires
Black Saturday Bushfires. Sunday 7 February 2009. I Was Actually There collects personal stories from survivors, first responders and community members who faced the catastrophe.
September 11 Terrorist Attack
How did it feel to watch from the 92nd floor of the World Trade Center, as the first 9/11 plane hit the building opposite?
The Dismissal
It was a move that shocked the nation. Fifty years ago, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam was dismissed by the Governor-General, Sir John Kerr. The government was dissolved and an election called.
Cronulla Riots
On a hot December Sunday, racial tensions boiled over at Sydney's Cronulla beach. The fuse had been lit a week earlier by an altercation between off-duty lifesavers and men described by police as "of middle eastern appearance".
The Fairlie Arrow Abduction Hoax
When nightclub singer Fairlie Arrow disappeared from her Gold Coast home in 1991, the tabloid media went to town. Arrow was reported as abducted by "an obsessed fan". Spoiler alert. It was all a hoax.
The Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race
The 1998 Sydney to Hobart race was a moment when nature asserted its dominance with terrifying force. Six lives were lost, five yachts sank and hundreds of sailors were pulled into a brutal fight for survival.
Julia Gillard's Misogyny Speech, 9 October 2012
A heated parliamentary debate turned into one of our most influential political speeches. Australia's first female PM Julia Gillard joins political allies and opponents, journalists and eyewitnesses to reflect on that speech.
Thredbo Landslide, 30 July 1997
The 1997 Thredbo landslide was one of the first tragedies in Australia to unfold as a live media event, with reporters broadcasting from the mountain. After 54 hours, news broke that a sole survivor had been found alive.
Cangai Siege, 30 March 1993
After a spree of murders across NSW and QLD, three criminals, with two child hostages, holed up inside an empty farmhouse outside Cangai in northern NSW. Their one goal was to challenge police to a shootout to the death.
Prime Minister Harold Holt Disappears, 17 December 1967
In December 1967, the nation was plunged into disbelief when PM Harold Holt disappeared while swimming at Cheviot Beach, Victoria. An unprecedented search began, with police, military personnel and surf lifesavers called in.
The Rabbitohs’ Fight Against Extinction, 15 October 1999
In October 1999, one of Australia's oldest and most successful sporting clubs was expelled from the National Rugby League. For the traditionally working-class supporters, the decision sparked a grassroots campaign that would become one of the biggest fights in Australian sporting history.
Lismore Floods, 28 February 2022
Lismore is a town that floods. But on February 28, 2022, after days of torrential rain, the town levy broke. The flood level reached 14.4 metres, more than two metres above the previous record, taking everyone by surprise.
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