05/05/2023
Another link to the pre-Fitzgerald inquiry era has sadly passed. This story has fascinated me for a long time, and I have extensively tried to have a conversation with someone who was involved with this period in Queensland's history, whether it be a former government employee, police officer, journalist, or anyone else. Despite the incredible work done by people such as Matthew Condon to document the history with remarkable detail and depth, curating the story into a captivating reading experience, the fact that people like Terry Lewis remained steadfast in claiming their innocence has intrigued me. It has led me to believe that there are still untold stories, perhaps from both sides of the fence.
These stories provide a link to the past that is disappearing with each passing year. They may not all be newsworthy or groundbreaking, but they are the stories that interest me – the lesser-known, the unassuming, the long-format conversation.
Someone once asked me why I am doing this podcast – it's not commercialised, it's not making me money, and it's not related to my day job. Why put in the hours of research and work required to put together a show? At the time, I didn't know how to answer that question. But after reading about Terry Lewis' passing and recalling the countless hours I've spent trying to create an episode on that era, I think I can better answer it now. It is my hope that if someone wants to tell a story, and if someone wants to hear a story and really get a chance to hear the person in natural conversation, not just the answers to questions, then that's the why, and my podcast is the place for it.
He was once the top law enforcement officer in Queensland, before being thrown in jail for corruption and stripped of his knighthood following the Fitzgerald Inquiry. Here's a look back at Terry Lewis's life.
