Once Upon a Time in Punchbowl
2014 · 50m · Documentary
Tells the inside story of the challenges the Lebanese Australian community has faced in Australia and how they have fought to overcome them. This landmark documentary series hears from community leaders, police, families and individuals, as they combine to tell the compelling and dramatic story of a proud and resilient community, under intense pressure and scrutiny. The story begins in the 1970s when large numbers of Lebanese migrants flooded into Australia. Many were Muslim, most were traumatised by civil war, all were desperate to build a better future. Over the coming decades, these new Australians struggled to establish a new life in their adopted country.
Episodes
1. 1975-199650m · Following the Lebanese Civil War thousands of refugees, more than half of them Muslim, pour into the Sydney suburb of Punchbowl sparking a clash of cultures.
2. 1997-200150m · By the late 1990's the Lebanese community is being terrorised by a violent criminal minority for whom drugs and criminal delinquency are the preferred lifestyle.
3. 2001-200550m · As 9/11 and the War on Terror puts thousands of Lebanese Australian Muslims in the firing line, their loyalty is questioned like never before and tensions explode.
4. 2005-201250m · After the Cronulla Beach riots in December 2005, lots of Lebanese Australians were left outraged at what they perceive as an attack by wider Australia on their Australian identity, their culture and religion. After rumours spread of reprisals against the Lakemba Mosque thousands met up to protect the building.More Like This
Murder by Medic
2024
They know how to kill and how to cure. Inside a hospital, at home, or maybe even next door. They are trained to save lives but also know how to take them. Delve into the stories of killers who broke the Hippocratic Oath to use their medical knowledge for murder, taking the lives of often vulnerable victims instead of caring for them.
More info →
Railway Adventures Across Australia
★ 10
Railway adventures across Australia follows the exploits of Scott McGregor on his quest to find the famous, unusual and unique trains and stories at the end of the line.
More info →Voulez-vous fêter?
2014
A journey of discovery through the ritual celebrations of Quebec’s various immigrant communities, as seen through the eyes of the local Greek, Portuguese, Lebanese, Moroccan, Chinese, Brazilian, Russian, Senegalese and other communities.
More info →
Out There with Jack Randall
2019 · ★ 6.3
Zoologist Jack Randall journeys into Australia's Outback to encounter extraordinary wildlife.
More info →
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
1994
Coverage of the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
More info →
Rise of the Continents
2013 · ★ 7.9
The Earth’s continents are instantly recognizable. These iconic landmasses seem permanent and unchanging, yet they are merely the wreckage of a much larger long-lost supercontinent – Pangaea. In this stunning four part series Professor Iain Stewart uncovers the evidence for this ancient past. He reveals how the world around us is full of clues – in the rocks, the landscapes and even the animals. All of which tell us how the land we live on was created.
More info →
Living Undocumented
2019 · ★ 6.8
Eight undocumented families' fates roller-coast as the United States' immigration policies are transformed.
More info →
Stephen Tompkinson's Australian Balloon Adventure
2010
Stephen Tompkinson's adventure begins in dramatic fashion when his maiden flight over South Australia's Flinders Ranges ends in a crash landing at 40 mph. But he presses on to the Barossa Valley, where a serene flight over the vineyards is followed by a far from calm cricket match against local winemakers - the outcome of which sends Stephen packing for Victoria and a spell on the mighty Murray River. Stephen's bid to win Australia’s biggest balloon competition continues. A childhood dream is fulfilled when he walks out onto the pitch of the Melbourne Cricket Ground during an Aussie Rules game - and trumped the following morning when his balloon flies through the ground's goalposts. His balloon truck gets a makeover and the city's Greek festival nearly ends in a diplomatic incident. Then heavy rain prevents him flying over Canberra - and to get back on track he risks a flight to 10,000 feet. Actor Stephen Tompkinson's attempt to win Australia's prestigious Canowindra Balloon Challenge concludes in this final episode. Stephen heads to Sydney, where he samples some of the city's culinary delights with MasterChef's Matt Preston, helps judge a drag competition, and receives some encouragement from the British High Commissioner to Australia. When the day of the race finally arrives, he meets his competitors at Canowindra. The teams have to hit three targets laid out over the countryside, but things start disastrously for Stephen when he misreads the wind and drifts off-course. Can he recover and win the challenge?
More info →
Annabel Crabb's Civic Duty
2025
This 3-part docuseries tells the remarkable story of Australia's democratic system. Annabel Crabb unearths the individuals and stories behind the features that combine to make Australian democracy globally unique.
More info →
Landline
Landline is an Australian national rural issues television program broadcast on ABC1. Presented by Pip Courtney, the program discusses rural issues regarding farming, mining and fisheries from around Australia. Each week the show wraps up with an update on commodity prices for livestock and mining, and detailed national weather rainfall reports. The program premiered on Sunday 2 February 1992 at 12:00 pm and has remained in that timeslot throughout its entire run. The program is also repeated the following Monday at 11:00 am. Landline was the first program that broadcast on ABC2 when the channel was launched at 6.35 am on 7 March 2005. On the newly launched channel, the program is broadcast on Mondays at 6:25 am, 4:00 pm, 7:00 pm and 9:15 pm. Previous presenters include Deborah Knight, Ticky Fullerton, Anne Kruger and Sally Sara.
More info →