Cowper Podcast

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Cowper Podcast Investigative podcast which explores the real story behind the Cowper Bus Tragedy.
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19/10/2023

For those who cannot make the journey to visit the Memorial site.

19/10/2023

For those who cannot make the journey to visit the Memorial site.

20/10/2022

Today we take a moment to remember those who were lost 33 years ago and to reflect on some of the beautiful moments following this tragedy.

The Cowper tragedy and the stories behind it continues to spread to new listeners with a special Web Story that was rele...
16/11/2021

The Cowper tragedy and the stories behind it continues to spread to new listeners with a special Web Story that was released this morning. Take a look here: https://bit.ly/2YNnfFU

N.B. Have tissues close by.

20/10/2021
20/10/2021

Cowper Memorial (October 20, 2021)

Today we take a moment to remember those who were lost and to those who remain impacted by this tragedy.📷 Cowper bus cra...
20/10/2021

Today we take a moment to remember those who were lost and to those who remain impacted by this tragedy.

📷 Cowper bus crash survivors Angela Ormesher and Glenn Askew have a chat looking over the highway at Cowper after the ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the crash. Photo Adam Hourigan / The Daily Examiner

It was a bittersweet day today with the completion of the new Pacific Highway upgrade from Hexham to the QLD border. As ...
17/12/2020

It was a bittersweet day today with the completion of the new Pacific Highway upgrade from Hexham to the QLD border.

As a sign of respect, Clarence Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis led a special service at the site of the Cowper Bus Disaster memorial in remembrance to the 21 lives lost on the morning of October 20, 1989.

Sadly, 'Cowper' missed out on a finalist spot for Best Documentary. But you can still help it earn the recognition it de...
02/11/2020

Sadly, 'Cowper' missed out on a finalist spot for Best Documentary. But you can still help it earn the recognition it deserves by casting a Listener's Choice vote in the Australian Podcast Awards.

Simply visit the link below, search "Cowper" and cast your vote.

https://australianpodcastawards.com/vote

We have all the nominations and winners (sealed in envelopes) for our main categories, but there’s one left to fill… the Listeners’ Choice, voted for by the general public.

Podcast creator Jenna Thompson visited the memorial site yesterday afternoon to reflect on the tragic events of October ...
20/10/2020

Podcast creator Jenna Thompson visited the memorial site yesterday afternoon to reflect on the tragic events of October 20, 1989.

It’s been a busy day today with meetings and interviews for stories. But none of that was as important as paying my respects at the Cowper Bus Disaster memorial site on its 31st anniversary.

Today has no doubt been an odd day for many families and friends who have been impacted by this tragedy.

Hug them tight.

This Tuesday marks the 31st anniversary of the Cowper Bus Disaster. If you haven't already, listen to the incredible tru...
16/10/2020

This Tuesday marks the 31st anniversary of the Cowper Bus Disaster.

If you haven't already, listen to the incredible true story of the survivors, emergency workers, and families who became united by this tragedy.

Who was responsible for the brutal deaths of 21 people? Cowper takes listeners on an emotional journey to reveal the full story behind that tragic day.

Colin Ormesher wept in the Royal Brisbane Hospital as he told how six members of his family group were killed when a sem...
13/10/2020

Colin Ormesher wept in the Royal Brisbane Hospital as he told how six members of his family group were killed when a semi-trailer and bus collided in pre-dawn darkness.

'It's just not fair."

Mr Ormesher lost his daughter Janine, 17, his son Gavin, 19, Gavin's fiancee, Vicki-Lee McGrath, 19, his brother Les and sister-in-law Nadine and their son Martin, 15.

[Story originally published in The Courier Mail on October 27, 1989]

Mr Ormesher, 49, wept in the hospital as he told how six members of his family group were killed when a semi-trailer and bus collided in pre-dawn darkness.

"When I got back to Grafton, the office was snowed under with phone calls from mainly Sydney media and they are all aski...
06/10/2020

"When I got back to Grafton, the office was snowed under with phone calls from mainly Sydney media and they are all asking for information and stories and quotes or whatever about the scene."

- Daily Examiner newspaper editor Rob Milne reveals the ethical dilemma of reporting on the Cowper bus tragedy.

Former Daily Examiner editor reveals the ethical dilemma of reporting on the Cowper bus tragedy and the hatred it ignited

Did you know a study was conducted about the aftermath of the Cowper and Clybucca bus disasters? Southern Cross Universi...
01/10/2020

Did you know a study was conducted about the aftermath of the Cowper and Clybucca bus disasters?

Southern Cross University professor Dr Jean Griffiths and Rodney Watts conducted the study which revealed that the impact of these two disasters was not limited to those on the bus.

Their paper became a ground-breaking study into recognising the mental health impacts of emergency services personal when attending major catastrophes - it's an issue that continues today.

'We were always concerned about the people who were at the roadside, but not necessarily about people doing other jobs'

Bill Counsell was a photographer for The Daily Examiner in 1989 and captured the definitive image from the Cowper traged...
26/09/2020

Bill Counsell was a photographer for The Daily Examiner in 1989 and captured the definitive image from the Cowper tragedy - a row of bodies lined up in a paddock, covered in blankets.

"You go to something like that and visually you see a lot of things. I mean the photos (I took) were one thing, but what you see other than the photos is a lot worse. There was a lot of stuff you just can't photograph. It's stuff that once you've seen it, it can't be unseen."

'I mean the photos were one thing, but what you see other than the photos is a lot worse. Thankfully a lot of people don't have to see those things'

Veteran television reporter Ian Thomson was a familiar face on Clarence Valley televisions screens covering local news a...
22/09/2020

Veteran television reporter Ian Thomson was a familiar face on Clarence Valley televisions screens covering local news and sport for many years before Cowper.

The event that still conjures up unpleasant feelings three decades on, not just from the carnage he witnessed at the site but in the aftermath of doing his job, something that still grates on him today.

Veteran television reporter shocked and gutted by the response from viewers

Of the many tragedies he investigated, one incident stayed with NSW State coroner Kevin Waller his entire life: the Cowp...
18/09/2020

Of the many tragedies he investigated, one incident stayed with NSW State coroner Kevin Waller his entire life: the Cowper bus disaster.

Mr Waller led the 1990 inquest seeking to understand what led to the crash in what was Australia's worst road disaster at the time.

What he uncovered was damning.

Of the 100+ document, reporter Kathryn Lewis provides an in-depth overview of the key issues he found.

DESPITE investigating many tragedies, there was one incident that stayed with the first NSW State Coronor Kevin Waller: The Cowper bus crash

01/06/2020

It's a beautiful moment we will never forget...

It's taken 30 years for NSW State Coroner Kevin Waller’s recommendation to upgrade the Pacific Highway… From tomorrow, C...
18/05/2020

It's taken 30 years for NSW State Coroner Kevin Waller’s recommendation to upgrade the Pacific Highway… From tomorrow, Cowper will be officially bypassed by the ‘new’ Pacific Highway: a divided, dual-lane freeway.

His grieving family bore the consequences of his actions - a sentence of pain, suffering, guilt and shame - after one de...
27/11/2019

His grieving family bore the consequences of his actions - a sentence of pain, suffering, guilt and shame - after one decision led to the death of 20 people. Read their story here >> http://ow.ly/k8q030pWPcc

Former Grafton radio journalist David Bancroft recalls a ruthless national media following the Cowper tragedy. "The firs...
19/11/2019

Former Grafton radio journalist David Bancroft recalls a ruthless national media following the Cowper tragedy. "The first question was 'how many are dead now?' and it was really starting to grate on me. These were people's families.."

Read his story here >>> http://ow.ly/eLMW30pUmuK

05/11/2019

Grafton Base Hospital's morgue wasn't designed for the influx of horror it received that night. But what happened next has haunted Kay Paine ever since. Read her story here: http://ow.ly/vEwb30pMaAs

It was a combination of tears, smiles and reunions at this year's anniversary. One that will no doubt help heal old woun...
05/11/2019

It was a combination of tears, smiles and reunions at this year's anniversary. One that will no doubt help heal old wounds.

"After 25 years of jumping over cliffs, organising road rescue units, doing floods, bushfires, tropical cyclones, the od...
03/11/2019

"After 25 years of jumping over cliffs, organising road rescue units, doing floods, bushfires, tropical cyclones, the odd tornado, you sit there and realise you've got nothing. You're naked." - Bryan Robins. Read Part 2 of his story here >>> http://ow.ly/494D30pPaVX

Musician Glenn-Michael Askew suffered career-ending injuries but still considers himself ‘one of the lucky ones’ after a...
30/10/2019

Musician Glenn-Michael Askew suffered career-ending injuries but still considers himself ‘one of the lucky ones’ after a kind gesture spared him his life. Read his story here >> http://ow.ly/rRh530pMVjr

Evidence submitted to the 1990 Coronial inquiry finally solves one key question about the incident: http://ow.ly/LgA330p...
28/10/2019

Evidence submitted to the 1990 Coronial inquiry finally solves one key question about the incident: http://ow.ly/LgA330pMUu3

Evidence submitted to the 1990 coronial inquiry finally solves one question about the incident

The first episode of Cowper ended on a cliffhanger that left many listeners desperate to know one question... http://ow....
28/10/2019

The first episode of Cowper ended on a cliffhanger that left many listeners desperate to know one question... http://ow.ly/IDmR30pMTYb

The first ended on a cliffhanger that left many listeners desperate to know one question: Do the pregnant woman and her unborn child survive?

Natisha was sitting on the left side of the bus, next to an older woman because her brother didn't want to. He sat with ...
27/10/2019

Natisha was sitting on the left side of the bus, next to an older woman because her brother didn't want to. He sat with his mother across the aisle. They were both killed and Natisha was relatively uninjured. Read Natisha's incredible story of strength and hope following this devastating tragedy: http://ow.ly/oFfv30pMasZ

The second episode has arrived! If you haven't already subscribed on your favourite podcasting app, you can listen to it...
26/10/2019

The second episode has arrived! If you haven't already subscribed on your favourite podcasting app, you can listen to it here >> http://ow.ly/gx4430pMhjH

Who was responsible for the brutal deaths of 21 people? Cowper takes listeners on an emotional journey to reveal the full story behind that tragic day.

The Daily Examiner's front-page coverage of the Cowper tragedy was confronting to say the least. We've compiled all of t...
24/10/2019

The Daily Examiner's front-page coverage of the Cowper tragedy was confronting to say the least. We've compiled all of their old news clippings in the days following the crash >>> http://ow.ly/XeLT30pLQNr

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From The Daily Examiner is a six-part series that takes listeners on an emotional journey to reveal the full story behind that tragic day. Told through the eyes of those who witnessed the horror, some sharing their story for the first time, each episode explores a different aspect of the event to reveal a tangled web of trauma and negligence.

Listen and subscribe to the Cowper Podcast here: iTunes Stitcher Spotify Whooshkaa