Childers

Remembering Julie with David and Dee O'Keeffe

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 05:46:49 GMT

The family of Irish backpacker Julie O'Keeffe remember her in this emotional episode on the 25th anniversary of the fire

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The Reflections of Memorial Mastermind Sam di Mauro

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 05:44:36 GMT

Sam di Mauro was responsible for developing the Memorial to the victims of the Palace fire. On the 25th anniversary he reflects on the work he created

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Rob Jansen Returns to Childers 25 Years On

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 04:38:47 GMT

Dutch backpacker Rob Jansen escaped the Palace Hostel fire. He has returned to pay his respects and say thank you to the local community on the 25th anniversary

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Chat With Good Friend of Sebastian Westerveld and Adam Rowland - Daiman McIntyre

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 02:41:52 GMT

Daiman McIntyre met Seb and Adam as young backpackers in early 2000. In this episode he returns to Childers for the first time in 24 years and reflects on his time spent with his travel buddies

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Childers Fire Fighters Bob Winkelmann & Hayden Whitaker

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 02:10:04 GMT

Bob Winkelmann & Hayden Whitaker were the first-responder fire fighters when the Palace Backpacker Hostel was set alight. 25 years on they sat down to reflect on that night, the work required to put out the blaze and the efforts to get people out of the building.

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Creator of "The Palace" Stage Production Rod Ainsworth

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 06:25:47 GMT

The Childers community has long been applauded and celebrated for how it responded in the wake of the fire at the Palace Backpackers Hostel in June 2000. Those efforts are now the inspiration behind a musical stage production which will be performed during the 25th anniversary commemorations. Its creative director Rod Ainsworth explains the background the project in this episode.

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Bundaberg Regional Council Mayor Helen Blackburn

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 03:28:25 GMT

These days Helen Blackburn is the Mayor of Bundaberg Regional Council which will host a 25th anniversary service in a few days time. But she also has her own attachment to the Childers tragedy through a key counselling role in the immediate aftermath of the fire. In this episode Helen discusses her recollections of 25 years ago and how the 25th anniversary of the fire has been approached by Council

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Childers Is Returning With New Episodes

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:37:29 GMT

It's been five years since Childers: The Full Story was released. Now, as the 25th anniversary of the tragic fire in the small Queensland town is about to be marked, we are re-visiting the story. New episodes are coming soon

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22 - Farewell

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 16:39:31 GMT

Immediately after the fire, the Childers community embraced the backpackers as their own. It made the task of saying goodbye and returning to normality even more difficult. A simple thank you has never felt like enough. 20 years on, their gratitude and appreciation of the small Queensland town they are forever linked to is stronger than ever

Written and produced by Paul Cochrane

Original music, sound design & editing by Zoltan Fecso

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21 - Family

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 14:27:00 GMT

The fire at the Palace Backpackers Hostel in Childers on June 23, 2000 changed lives forever. It took young men and women way too soon and caused immeasurable trauma to those who escaped the building that night. They would return home a very different version of the carefree backpacker who set off on the travel adventure of a lifetime, leaving families to pick up the pieces.

Written and produced by Paul Cochrane

Original music, sound design & editing by Zoltan Fecso

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20 - Neil

Sun, 05 Jul 2020 22:52:00 GMT

When Neil Griffith and his University friend Nigel decided to pack up their life in late 1999 and head to Australia on the adventure of a lifetime, they were young, carefree fun-seekers with the world at their feet. But it would be a trip engulfed by multiple episodes of tragedy and trauma and a key role in the investigation into the Palace Backpackers Hostel fire in Childers.

Written and produced by Paul Cochrane

Original music, sound design & editing by Zoltan Fecso

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19 - Legislation

Thu, 02 Jul 2020 15:37:00 GMT

The Childers fire is considered the worst arson attack in Queensland history. The after effects were far-reaching with local businesses and the tourism industry taking both a financial and reputational hit. Solutions needed to be found and that started with fixing Queensland's inadequate fire safety laws.

Written and produced by Paul Cochrane

Original music, sound design & editing by Zoltan Fecso

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18 - Memorial

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 14:12:42 GMT

It took just two years and four months for the Palace to be re-opened following a full re-build on the site of the exisiting hostel. There was considerable consultation with the community and the victims' families before agreeing on what would be a stunning memorial to the Palace 15. But getting to that highly emotional unveiling was far more complex than Council had first imagined.

Written and produced by Paul Cochrane

Original music, sound design & editing by Zoltan Fecso

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17 - Window

Sun, 28 Jun 2020 14:17:17 GMT

In the months after the fire, Council commenced its plan to restore the Palace and bring about some normality for neighbouring businesses affected by the June 2000 tragedy. But striking a deal to acquire the building and establish a suitable memorial to the victims was more challenging than they had envisioned.

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16 - Guilty

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 15:00:00 GMT

Immediately after they escaped the burning Palace, a number of backpackers reported their suspicions and identified the primary suspect to police. Authorities then set about piecing together a case to prove it was deliberately lit and build a murder case against him. It was an investigation ahead of its time to ensure it would succeed when the matter went before a jury.

Written and produced by Paul Cochrane

Original music, sound design & editing by Zoltan Fecso

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15 - Krueger

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 15:15:00 GMT

The man who lit the Palace Backpackers Hostel was well known to police. He had an extensive criminal history across multiple states and had caused immeasurable trauma to a family who had invited him into their home. What happened in Childers was the extension of a disturbing pattern of behaviour during the decade prior.

Written and produced by Paul Cochrane

Original music, sound design & editing by Zoltan Fecso

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14 - Man Hunt

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 00:31:00 GMT

The Childers community and surrounding towns were on edge. They feared for their safety as the man dubbed Australia's most wanted was on the loose for five days after the fire. During a violent apprehension, it took the bravery of a hero police officer and his loyal dog to bring Robert Long into custody.

Written and produced by Paul Cochrane

Original music, sound design & editing by Zoltan Fecso

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13 - Princess

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 21:49:00 GMT

The burden of a week of intense grief and trauma was weighing heavily on the survivors and the Childers community. The town needed a lift. It came in the form of the first Royal visit to the region in 25 years.

Written and produced by Paul Cochrane

Original music, sound design & editing by Zoltan Fecso

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12 - Rob

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 14:36:00 GMT

The strong Dutch contingent staying at the Palace brought a unique energy to the backpacker group. And in June 2000 they found a common bond through the love of their national football team. But the fire would tear the group apart and change young lives forever.

Written and produced by Paul Cochrane

Original music, sound design & editing by Zoltan Fecso

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11 - James

Sun, 14 Jun 2020 14:16:00 GMT

Three days after the fire a highly emotional memorial service was held in the Community Centre. It featured the full suite of Government officials, but the focus was on the group of survivors, lead by James Whitehurst, who coined the term which would become synonymous with the 15 victims.

Written and produced by Paul Cochrane

Original music, sound design & editing by Zoltan Fecso

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10 - Kim and Karl

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 16:02:00 GMT

On June 23, 2000, the Childers Backpacker Hostel fire was the biggest news story in the world. It would have a profound impact on the lives and careers of some of Australia's most prominent journalists. At the forefront, two rival commercial television stations, led by the Seven Network's Kim Skubris and Nine's Karl Stefanovic. This is their story

Written and produced by Paul Cochrane

Original music, sound design & editing by Zoltan Fecso

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09 - Keith

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 15:02:00 GMT

Just two days before the fire, Keith O'Brien celebrated his 22nd birthday with guests of the Hostel. By week's end that same circle of friends would draw strength from each other as they mourned the loss of 15 young lives and questioned why there were no smoke alarms sounding as the fire raged through the Palace.

Written and produced by Paul Cochrane

Original music, sound design & editing by Zoltan Fecso

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08 - Mick

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 14:51:00 GMT

When it came to media spotlight, Childers was no shrinking violet, but it certainly wasn't overrun with regular requests. Nothing could prepare it for the avalanche of media that was about to quickly descend on the town though, led by a local news crew and its intrepid cameraman.

Written and produced by Paul Cochrane

Original music, sound design & editing by Zoltan Fecso

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07 - Julie

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 14:29:00 GMT

Just three months before the Palace Backpackers Hostel fire, the O'Keeffe family, who were visiting from Ireland, met for dinner at a popular Sydney hotel. It was the night before their daughter Julie and her two travel companions were heading north to work on the farms in Childers and they'd never seen her happier. It was the last time they would see her alive.

Written and produced by Paul Cochrane

Original music, sound design & editing by Zoltan Fecso

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06 - Bill

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 14:16:00 GMT

Childers was Bill Trevor's town and he led his community with pride and purpose. But his leadership would face its sternest test when the centrepiece of the main street - the Palace Backpackers Hostel - was set alight in an arson attack on 23 June, 2000. But with the help of an army of community volunteers, the local Mayor would put measures in place to ensure the backpackers were taken care of and Childers wouldn't be defeated.

Written and produced by Paul Cochrane

Original music, sound design & editing by Zoltan Fecso

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05 - Tia

Sun, 31 May 2020 21:29:00 GMT

New Zealander Tia Pou had Childers in her travel plans and the Palace Backpackers Hostel was where she wanted to stay. And when she got there, it was everything she anticipated, until things took a sudden, unexpected twist. But what happened in Childers was just the start of her horrifying ordeal.

Written and produced by Paul Cochrane

Original music, sound design & editing by Zoltan Fecso

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04 - Jessica

Thu, 28 May 2020 12:33:00 GMT

It took Jessica Wiegand 8 months waitressing in a London restaurant to earn enough money to get her visa for Australia. And when she arrived it was everything she hoped for. Travel and sightseeing. She headed north to spend a few weeks working on the farms in Childers and had just started to make new acquaintances when her world was turned upside down.

Written and produced by Paul Cochrane

Original music, sound design & editing by Zoltan Fecso

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03 - Ken

Thu, 28 May 2020 12:17:00 GMT

As a young man, Ken Morris dreamed of packing up and leaving Wales to take up life in Australia. It didn't quite pan out that way. So when his youngest daughter Natalie and her friends set their sights on a working holiday down under, he fully supported her fulfilling her dreams. But it would be the start of a recurring nightmare that changed his family forever.

Written and produced by Paul Cochrane

Original music, sound design & editing by Zoltan Fecso

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02 - Sarah

Thu, 28 May 2020 12:03:00 GMT

Sarah Mahoney headed to Childers seeking new adventures while she waited on the outcome of job and education prospects. She figured a few weeks picking on the local small crop farms and earning a few dollars would be valuable life experience. She could never have anticipated how quickly those plans would change.

Written and produced by Paul Cochrane

Original music, sound design & editing by Zoltan Fecso

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01 - Fire

Thu, 28 May 2020 11:44:00 GMT

It's just after midnight. June 23, 2000. Fire station officer in charge Curl Santacaterina is fast asleep when he's paged to attend a job a few streets away from his Childers home. His crew, which includes Hayden Whittaker, is about to attend the biggest job of their careers. A fire which would forever change the small Queensland highway town, its residents and the lives of everyone staying at the Palace Backpackers Hostel.

Written and produced by Paul Cochrane

Original music, sound design & editing by Zoltan Fecso

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/childers.

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Welcome to Childers

Sun, 24 May 2020 01:45:00 GMT

On June 23, 2000, the Palace Backpackers Hostel in Childers was set alight while its guests slept. It was the worst arson attack in Queensland history. The perpetrator, Robert Long, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on arson and two counts of murder. 15 people were killed. 69 managed to escape but their lives would never be the same. This is the full story of the miraculous tales of escape, bravery and pure selflessness by a community which wrapped its arms around these young men and women from across the world and took them in as their own.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/childers.

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