Advertise on podcast: On A Southern Beach: The Mysterious Case of the Somerton Man.

Description

On a Southern Beach: The Mysterious Case of the Somerton Man is the debut podcast from Oaktree Productions, Melbourne. Written and presented by Matthew Oakley, this podcast takes an indepth view of an extraordinary mystery. Who was the man who came to his final resting place alone on Somerton Beach on December 1st, 1948. What was it about Australia's post war climate that lead so many to conclude he was a Russian spy? and who were the people who took the secrets of his potential identity to their graves. Through detailled research, interviews and plain old story telling, we introduce a new generation of listeners through one of Australia's most enduring cold cases. Episode One: Setting The Scene Adelaide, 1948. Between storms, department stores, returned service men and new suburbs, this episode sets the time and place for the events of December 1st, 1948. We take a look at what Adelaide was like then amidst the back drop of Australian reconstruction after World War II. Episode Two: Mr Chifley Elected in 1945, Mr Benjamin Chifley and the Australian Labor Party had a short but controversial stint in government that included the time of the Somerton man's death. This episode explores the early manifestations of the "red scare" and why so many of us were, as a result, quick to believe the Somerton Man was indeed a Russian Spy. Episode Three: Tamam Shud : The mysterious man Part One. The first of a two part episode into the death of the Somerton man. In this episode we examine the journey he is said to have taken, the missing hours leading up to his initial discovery by John and Mary Lyons, and the autopsy after his death which revealed not only his strange appearance, but the even stranger piece of esoteric poetry in his pocket. Episode four: The Mysterious man part two: The woman who didn't know him. Jestyn, aka Jessica Thompson was a nurse from Sydney who made her home in Adelaide after completing her training during the war. With her young son, Robin, she lived a relatively normal existence. So why was her address found amongst the Somerton Man's belongings, and his place of death mere kilometeres from her home. This episode examines in greater detail, the very secretive life of Jessica Jestyn Thompson, and asks the question, could the Somerton man be Robin's father. Many thanks to Professor Derek Abbott of Adelaide University for his work on establishing her identity and providing us with so much information over the years. This episode draws heavily on his work, and the work of Retired Detective Gerry Feltus. Episode 5: Robin Following on from the revelation of a potential child, this episode examines the life of New Zealand Ballet Dancer, the late Robin Thompson. With Identical teeth, ears, and limb structure, the resemblance is uncanny. But given both Jessica and Robin are now dead, will we ever know the real story? The penultimate episode in the 6 part series, we take a look at all the theories, thoughts and speculation that became a part of the fabric of robin's life. Episode 6. Tamam Shud - it is finished. The last episode draws on the work of pathologist Professor Derek Abbott and his on going attempts to bring to light the Somerton man's Identity. We take a look at the later efforts to connect his partner Rachel to the Somerton man, and how the identity of one man became bound up in the work and identity of another.