WINX
Horse racing might be the sport of kings, but right now in Australia it’s a queen who rules the track. A flying machine named Winx. This six-year-old mare has won her last 19 races in a row and this weekend she’ll be trying to make it number 20. With the victories come the great rewards. Winx has won almost $13.5 million in prizemoney so far. Soon she’ll become the turf’s top earner of all time. But there’s more to this amazing madam than just winning. Peter Stefanovic meets the team behind Winx – her trainer, jockey and three lucky owners – and reports how they’re all having the ride of their lives.
Reporter: Peter Stefanovic
Producer: Nick Greenaway
THE MAN WHO SHOT BIN LADEN
If anyone tried to imagine what a highly skilled, ruthless assassin might look like, Robert O’Neill’s image would not spring to mind. But beyond his friendly face and benign demeanour, O’Neill is a man who has spent much of his adult life learning to kill. In May 2011, every bit of the U.S. Navy Seal’s training was tested when he lined up the western world’s greatest single enemy, Osama bin Laden, in his gunsights. O’Neill didn’t flinch – he pulled the trigger. As Liam Bartlett discovered, hearing his story is chilling enough, but even more worrying are the latest expert warnings that bin Laden’s death, far from killing off al-Qaeda, has spurred the terrorists on to greater evil.
Reporter: Liam Bartlett
Producers: Phil Goyen, Steve Jackson
FOO FIGHTERS
There was no way reporter Allison Langdon was going to refuse the invitation to interview and spend a couple of days with Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins from the hugely successful band, Foo Fighters. However, she accepted her assignment with a sense of trepidation, because she already knew encounters with “The Fooeys” tend to be rather unpredictable – no one is ever quite sure what’s about to happen or why. Grohl and Hawkins have well and truly worked out that every waking moment of life is for living. As well as not having an off switch they also have no filter, which is a nice way of saying their language is as colourful as their lives. But more than anything, these rock legends are great fun, and their music’s not too bad either.
Reporter: Allison Langdon
Producers: Garry McNab
COCAINE CASSIE: THE PRISON INTERVIEW
In a major 60 MINUTES exclusive Liam Bartlett interviews Cassandra Sainsbury, the 22-year-old South Australian woman who now claims the unwanted title of being our best known overseas prisoner. It’s an interview that has taken months of delicate negotiations to arrange. As well as Cassie herself, the Sainsbury family, lawyers and prison officials were all involved in consultations, and late last week the doors of Bogota’s El Buen Pastor women’s prison were opened for Bartlett and his team. Inside the jail they found a surprisingly upbeat and candid Cassie Sainsbury, who welcomed the opportunity to give her side of the story for the very first time, and try to explain the simple question: why did she attempt to smuggle 5.8 kilograms of cocaine out of Colombia? Since her arrest in April we have heard a lot about Cassie Sainsbury, but we’ve heard nothing from Cassie Sainsbury. Until now.
Reporter: Liam Bartlett
Producers: Steve Jackson, Sean Power
ONE HELLUVA DAY
February 18 this year was one helluva day for Glenn Dickson. He was out spear fishing 40 kilometres off the Far North Queensland coast when he was repeatedly attacked by a three and a half metre bull shark. His right leg was severed and the loss of blood meant he almost died – six times – during an epic journey to get him to hospital. Against the odds Glenn survived. He says the love of his beautiful young family got him through. But now, seven months on, that love is being tested again because Glenn has decided to face up to his fear, and maybe the shark too, by getting back in the water.
Reporter: Peter Stefanovic
Producer: Michelle Tapper
STILL THE ONE
Whatever happened to Shania Twain? Back in the nineties she was everywhere and her catchy country-pop music seemed to be playing every time we switched on the radio. In fact she was so popular that one of her albums still ranks as the highest seller by any female artist. But after a decade at the top, Twain abruptly and rather mysteriously left the stage. She gave up adulation for isolation and became a recluse. It possibly had something to do with her love life, which was so confused and complicated that it deserved its own country song. But now Shania Twain has returned to the spotlight, and it’s as if she’s never been away.
Reporter: Liam Bartlett
Producers: Stefanie Sgroi
2 of 3 of last night’s reports had the introductions read from outside of the studio, still with OTS graphics. Not sure if it is new or not. Perhaps inspired by Sunday Night’s latest special reports?
There was a huge amount of people online saying they can’t believe they did the story on Cassie and they will never watch 60 Minutes again, before the episode even went to air!
I believe it was the highest rating episode of the year.
Bet 60 Minutes are glad they don’t listen to the armchair experts at home.
ESCAPE FROM SALT CREEK
Until February last year few people had ever heard of Salt Creek, a rugged and spectacular piece of coastline 200 kilometres south-east of Adelaide. But then a monster named Roman Heinze lured two 23-year-old overseas backpackers to the isolated beach. To satisfy his wicked fantasies, Heinze kidnapped the unsuspecting women and subjected them to unthinkable terror. The trauma went on for hours, but against the odds, Lena from Germany and her friend from Brazil survived. What happened at Salt Creek has eerie similarities to the Australian horror movie Wolf Creek, only it’s all too real. On 60 MINUTES, Lena and her friend tell Tara Brown their incredible story of escape from Salt Creek, their desperate battle to save themselves and each other, and how they proved courage can conquer evil.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producers: Stefanie Sgroi, Sean Power, Alice Dalley
P!NK
There are no shades of grey when it comes to music superstar Pink. Her views are black and white and she’s not backward when it comes to sharing them. In these days of bubblegum-pop and disposable celebrities, that makes Pink an even bigger hit with her fans. So along with “rocker”, the titles “protestor” and “feminist icon” should also probably be printed on her business card. But as Allison Langdon finds out after spending a few days with Pink and her family, the labels she loves even more are wife and mum.
Reporter: Allison Langdon
Producer: Steven Burling
THE END
The end credits are rolling on Harvey Weinstein’s stellar movie career. The Hollywood producer, whose films have been nominated for a staggering 300 Academy Awards, has finally been exposed for his extraordinary abuse of power and position. For decades he preyed upon young, attractive women who were trying to make their way in the film industry. And just as unfathomable as the man’s disgraceful lechery is that he was enabled by a group of colleagues now accused of turning a blind eye. Zoe Brock, who grew up in Australia with ambitions to be in the movie business, adds her name to an ever increasing list of Weinstein victims.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producers: Phil Goyen
THE GIRL WITH THE BLUE EYES
Raudha Athif was a stunning cover model known all over the world as “The girl with the blue eyes”. But what few people knew was that she was much more committed to a career in medicine than photoshoots. At 21, Raudha was attending university in Bangladesh and had plans to join her family in Australia to finish her studies and become a doctor. But in March this year she was found dead in her college dorm room. Police claimed it was suicide, but in a 60 MINUTES special investigation Peter Stefanovic discovers substantial evidence that points to murder. The question for her grief-stricken family is why?
Reporter: Peter Stefanovic
Producer: Laura Sparkes
THE VIRGIN KING
There’s never been a billionaire businessman quite like Sir Richard Branson. He’s part entrepreneur, part adventurer, part crusader and 100 per cent showman. But the boss of the Virgin empire is having such an extraordinary life that he’s just written another autobiography. And now there’s even material for a third book, because when Liz Hayes sat down with Sir Richard in New York it was only days after he’d survived Irma, the hurricane that wiped out his island paradise in the Caribbean.
Reporter: Liz Hayes
Producer: Nick Greenaway
END OF THE LINE
Last Sunday plenty of champagne and beer flowed when Holden celebrated victory in the famous Bathurst 1000 car race. But next Friday will be an even more momentous occasion for the company. Toasts will be replaced with tears though when the last Holden rolls off the assembly line in Adelaide. It’s a moment that will also mark the end of car-making in Australia. With 700 companies linked to the existence of Holden it means up to 40,000 jobs could disappear. But the future for the soon-to-be ex-employees is not as bleak as many might think. And that’s because of the enormous community effort to support them. So while the workers might be seeing big business at its cruellest, they’re also seeing humanity at its best.
Reporter: Ross Coulthart
Producers: Howard Sacre, Michelle Tapper
FORGOTTEN FUTURE
The most precious thing in Chontell Johnson’s life is her beautiful two-year-old daughter, Te Maumahara. It’s a Maori name meaning “To remember”, which in all likelihood is something 38-year-old Chontell is going to forget very soon. That’s because she was born with a genetic mutation that has given her a 98 per cent chance of developing early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Chontell inherited the condition from her mother, who died from Alzheimer’s at 47, and there’s a 50 per cent chance she has passed it on to her daughter. Cruelly, 244 Aussies are diagnosed with dementia every day and the number is rising. But there is hope. Liam Bartlett travels to a very special town in the mountains of Colombia to meet an Australian scientist on the verge of a breakthrough to defeat dementia for good.
Reporter: Liam Bartlett
Producers: Steve Jackson
ON TRIAL
It’s hard not to be angry and disgusted when you hear what Tegan Wagner has endured. When she was 14 she was attacked at a party and gang raped. It was a horrible, humiliating assault and she quite rightly wanted justice. Tegan demanded the perpetrators of the crime be held accountable and put her faith in our legal system. But she says what was to come was as bad as the rapes. The teenager felt attacked all over again – by defence lawyers whose brutal cross-examination of her in court lasted three harrowing days. What the barristers didn’t count on, however, was Tegan Wagner’s unshakeable courage.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producers: Stefanie Sgroi, Sean Power
LONE DIRECTION
For five frantically fabulous years One Direction ruled the pop world. They were one of the biggest boy groups ever and had millions of teenage girls swooning at the mere mention of their names. But the inescapable truth is that boys become men, so when they disbanded at the beginning of last year it wasn’t entirely unexpected. 1D’s loveable larrikin, Niall Horan, decided on a new direction. He swapped fame for anonymity and took off backpacking around the world. He tells Allison Langdon it was a grand adventure made even more special because it ended up taking him back to the big time.
Reporter: Allison Langdon
Producers: Garry McNab, Eliza Berkery
THE PRICE OF LOVE
If the 1980s were the decade of decadence, Adnan Khashoggi was the emperor of excess. Back then the Saudi arms dealer was the richest man in the world, flaunting his wealth like no one else. But among the super-yachts, jets and mansions, his greatest indulgence was a personal harem of young, beautiful women. Former model and Roxy Surfwear founder Jill Dodd was one of Khashoggi’s many female playthings, and after more than 30 years of keeping a very big secret has now decided it’s time to lift the veil on her life as a billionaire’s pleasure wife.
Reporter: Peter Stefanovic
Producer: Michelle Tapper
SHOCK AND POOR
It’s been a miserable few weeks for Malcolm Turnbull’s government, stalled by myriad cock-ups and controversies. But the greatest challenge it faces continues to be Australia’s crisis over energy supply and cost. Who hasn’t been shocked by a recent electricity or gas bill? And who isn’t infuriated that power prices have risen so sharply? In a country as abundant with resources as ours it defies logic that there are now some Australians who can’t even pay for the electricity or gas to cook a simple meal. While federal – and state – politicians scramble to act, Elon Musk, the American billionaire with the brilliant mind, says he wants to help. In an exclusive interview with Liz Hayes, Musk says Australia’s energy emergency is easily fixable, and his construction of the world’s largest lithium ion battery at Jamestown in South Australia is proof.
Reporter: Liz Hayes
Producer: Grace Tobin
THE BRIDGES OF CALORIE COUNTING
There’s an impressive statistic Michelle Bridges uses in her campaign to make us healthier. She says those people who have followed her advice have lost more than one and a half million kilograms of fat. That’s equivalent to the total weight of 20,000 Australian adults. There is no question that this is a substantial achievement, but why then is the personal trainer made famous by TV’s The Biggest Loser so controversial? Maybe because no one likes being told the truth about obesity and the fact that it is killing us. Or maybe it’s because of resentment that Michelle Bridges has so successfully parlayed bad news into enormous profits.
Reporter: Allison Langdon
Producer: Stefanie Sgroi
SNAPPY FEET
In fiction and in reality the crocodile has generated some amazing Australian characters. Think Dundee and Irwin. And there’s another we all should know – the Barefoot Bushman. Rob Bredl is a shoeless showman who relies on the science of animal behaviour to ride on the backs of monster crocs, all the while insisting that playing with them is not as dangerous as it looks. That’s a position he still holds even though last year one of his beloved animals grabbed him in a death roll and tried to eat his arm. The attack almost killed Rob and he spent months in hospital and in recovery. Now, battered but fit again, the Barefoot Bushman is about to get back on the croc, and Charles Wooley went along to find out if he’s fearless or just plain foolish.
Reporter: Charles Wooley
Producer: Ali Smith
GIRL POWER
To be a champion footy player it helps to have the athletic attributes of size, strength and a mighty kicking boot. Hannah Mouncey certainly ticked those boxes and was in demand by the top clubs to play in the newly established AFL women’s competition, the WAFL. But the AFL said no. It decided Hannah was ineligible because at 1.88 metres (six-foot-two) and 100 kilograms, she was too much of a physical threat to her opponents. For many it seems like a clear case of discrimination. However this case is not that simple – Hannah wasn’t born a girl.
Reporter: Peter Stefanovic
Producers: Steve Jackson, Sean Power
BLOODLINES
Renee McBryde and Samantha Byran live worlds apart but share a terrible truth. They are the innocent offspring of cold-blooded killers, their fathers both convicted murderers. But discovering that dark secret hasn’t been the only torment for these two young women. More troubling is the lurking question: Are killers made or born? And is there such a thing as a murder gene?
Reporter: Liz Hayes
Producers: Nick Greenaway, Eliza Berkery
BAND OF BROTHERS
It has been said that desire was always the central theme of INXS music, and as its front man, Michael Hutchence famously embodied seduction and yearning. This year marks 40 years since six high school mates from the Northern Beaches of Sydney got together and formed what would be one of the biggest rock bands in the world. This month also sees another anniversary, one nobody wants to celebrate – 20 years since Hutchence was found dead in a Sydney hotel room. On 60 MINUTES the remaining five original band members pay tribute to the Michael they knew, a fun, caring but mischievous friend. They also journey back to the school where the music began and make a surprising discovery – reporter Tara Brown is one of the alumni.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producer: Laura Sparkes
GENETIC CURSE
A few days ago Veronica Neave celebrated her 50th birthday, and the greatest gift she received was the news that doctors had not yet diagnosed her with cancer. It sounds strange, but in the Neave family being healthy is rare because so many of them have been cursed with the BRCA 2 cancer gene mutation. While Veronica does carry the gene, unlike her sister, mother, father, aunt, grandmother and great grandmother, who have all died from cancer, she remains fit and well. And while she is surviving and thriving, she is determined to honour her family by helping others.
Reporter: Peter Stefanovic
Producer: Michelle Tapper
