1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:02,080 Speaker 1: I look up. 2 00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 2: Two guys are walking towards us from the direction of 3 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:10,480 Speaker 2: the van. Both of them look mean and they're carrying 4 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 2: baseball bats. Oh no, Leon, the kid on talking to 5 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:21,759 Speaker 2: turns around, sees them, turns to me and says, who 6 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 2: are those two guys? 7 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:23,640 Speaker 1: You're kidding. 8 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:26,080 Speaker 2: I turned to him and go, They're not with you, 9 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 2: and he goes, I've never seen him before. 10 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:33,560 Speaker 1: Welcome back to Life and Crimes. We are here again 11 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 1: with Mark Tregellis, who is a former remote area policeman 12 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 1: who's written a crackerjack little book called back Up He 13 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:46,279 Speaker 1: three Hours Away, and today is going to tell us 14 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:50,839 Speaker 1: a couple more stories from the sixty odd stories that 15 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 1: are in that book. Welcome Mark, Thanks Andrew. Great to 16 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 1: be back now. I think you mentioned earlier something we 17 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: prepared earlier, that you have a story to do with 18 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:05,320 Speaker 1: a dirty yellow van. So this was one of the 19 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:09,600 Speaker 1: well pretty much yes, because they drive around the dust 20 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:11,279 Speaker 1: just gathers on them. 21 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:14,960 Speaker 2: On the night this story achieved in East s Gippsland, 22 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 2: I had to admit legend status. By the end of 23 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:22,039 Speaker 2: this job, I had virtually every policeman in skips Land 24 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:25,479 Speaker 2: glued to the radio as to what would happen. 25 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: So where does it start? 26 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 2: So it starts in Malacuta, working by myself, and I 27 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 2: get a phone call from the board, and the board 28 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 2: back then was regional communications at Marbile Mar. 29 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 1: That is a fair just for anybody who's not sure 30 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 1: about victorious geography. Maul to Malakuto they do start with 31 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 1: them is about like Gladsgow to London. Yeah. 32 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a long, long, one long way. And they said, 33 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 2: they came up and said, Tree, can you start heading 34 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 2: out the highway? We got a job for you. So 35 00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 2: I'm heading out from a Polla Bay towards Genoa and 36 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 2: I said what you got and they said, We've got 37 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 2: a dirty yellow van with five offenders on board. They're 38 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 2: doing multiple thefts and petrol drive offs from lakes New 39 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 2: Marella or bost They've stolen a stuffed kangaroo from a pub. 40 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 2: They're headed towards you and you're the only cop between 41 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 2: them and the border. And I said, right, give the 42 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 2: pub a canner call, see if they can spot them 43 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:30,959 Speaker 2: going past. If they go up the Monaro Highway, I'll 44 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 2: miss them. If they go through on the Princess Highway 45 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 2: to Genoa, I'll get them. 46 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: So just to explain to our listeners that a road 47 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 1: does fork off northwoods up over the border country to 48 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 1: it heads up to camera from that area. 49 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 2: So I arrived at the intersection at Genoa and the 50 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 2: board came back to me and said, we've just had 51 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 2: a phone call from the pub. They're headed your way 52 00:02:56,919 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 2: and I've gone fabulous back up. And that's when the 53 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 2: one of the times when I had the quote he 54 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 2: goes back up three hours away and I've gone where 55 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 2: is everyone? And apparently the forest protesters were going off 56 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 2: up at Goodnook and everyone else was and that was 57 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:15,880 Speaker 2: three hours. So I picked up the New South Wales 58 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 2: radio and got on to the New South Wales Board 59 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 2: and said, I'm here. I've got five offenders coming at me. 60 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:26,679 Speaker 2: Back up, and Eden came up and they said, oh, yeah, 61 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 2: eating here, we'll back you up. And I've gone, oh 62 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:32,360 Speaker 2: that's great, but we're not at Eden, still an hour away. 63 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 2: But if they weren't out of Eden, where were they? 64 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 2: And they said, oh, we're it bigger, which is another hour. 65 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 2: Oh no, and what are you doing up there? They 66 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 2: were on a dispatch. So I said, well, can you 67 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 2: start in my way? I've got five offenders coming at me. 68 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 2: So my plan was I was going to just stay 69 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 2: in gene with the lights off because there's absolutely nothing 70 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 2: between can River and Genoa except forest. And the longer 71 00:03:57,120 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 2: the van takes to get to me, the better it is, 72 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 2: because that means I'll have less time for Eden to 73 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 2: get to me. Exactly forty minutes later, dirty yellow vandrives pass. 74 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 2: So I turn on the engine, keep my headlights off, 75 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:14,840 Speaker 2: pull up behind them, and as I come up turn 76 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:19,719 Speaker 2: my headlights on. I'm checking the registration number, the registration 77 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 2: plate on the back of the car. I've only got 78 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 2: a partial but if there have been swapping number plates 79 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 2: true along the way, they could have any number on board. 80 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:32,160 Speaker 2: And I was told actually that they had swapped number 81 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 2: plates when they did the Kangaroo the Kangaroo heist. But 82 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:39,160 Speaker 2: then I look up and on the back of the 83 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:44,640 Speaker 2: van is spray painted the words police, do not follow me. 84 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:53,240 Speaker 2: You make me nervous. Oh, And I just remember thinking that's. 85 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:56,479 Speaker 1: Unusual, and what does it really mean. 86 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 2: I'm thinking, surely, if you're committing crimes, you're not going 87 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 2: to be have that written on the back. But I thought, well, 88 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 2: I guess I'm going to make them nervous, so I 89 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 2: put the lights on and hit the sigron a couple 90 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 2: of times, and the car pulls over, and then I'm 91 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 2: sort of behind it, and I'm giving there my location, 92 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 2: so I'm letting them know exactly where I am and 93 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 2: what's happened. But then I look up and two girls 94 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 2: get out of the van and walk past and walk 95 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 2: back towards me. So I get out of the van 96 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:34,039 Speaker 2: and these two girls walk up to me, and one 97 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:39,360 Speaker 2: in front comes up and goes, hello, I'm Yvonne, I'm Suzanne. 98 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 2: They're from Germany and German backpacker. 99 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: Chicks, and no one else in the van. 100 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 2: I'm tipping. This isn't my van. I said, hi, girls, 101 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 2: how's your night going? And they said, yeaht is good, 102 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 2: but for what there is? And did you pull us over? 103 00:05:56,440 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 2: And I've gone you wouldn't believe it, but your van 104 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 2: matches the description of one full of offenders that I 105 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 2: wanted for crimes in this area. And the girls go, no, 106 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 2: this is criminals? Is how violent? 107 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: Yeah? I go yeah, and they look at me and go, oh, 108 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:13,160 Speaker 1: this is so exciting. 109 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:17,240 Speaker 2: I love Australia, and what pops into my brain. 110 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 1: But that the movie with the two Elma and Louise. 111 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 2: No, no, not that Austin Powers where I beat the 112 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:28,479 Speaker 2: two Japanese twins where you pull out your notebook, go 113 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 2: to the back page and say things to do before 114 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:35,040 Speaker 2: I die. Number four have sex with van full of backpacker. 115 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 2: So there's a tick, so I go, so, girls, you're excited. 116 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:42,160 Speaker 2: And just as I say that, what drives past another 117 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 2: dirty ever So I go, sorry, girl's got to go. 118 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:47,360 Speaker 2: Jump in the van. Tear off after this one, come 119 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:51,359 Speaker 2: up behind it. Check the regio. It matches the partial 120 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 2: that I've got, so I know I've got my crew. 121 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 2: But I'm nearing the border, so I have to be 122 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 2: quick because, like I said before, if you get them 123 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 2: over the border, can't bring them back. And I've got 124 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 2: to get permission to continue the pursuit over the boarder anyway. 125 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 2: So I turn the headlights on. The car pulls over, 126 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 2: the driver gets out. He's about twenty five, covered in 127 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 2: tattoo's acting very squarely, and there's heads bobbing around in 128 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 2: the back of the van. One of them is not 129 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:23,120 Speaker 2: a kangaroo. And I'm sitting there thinking, how am I 130 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 2: going to do this? So I picked up the loudspeaker 131 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 2: from the front of the van turned it up full 132 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 2: and said, occupants of the van, listen carefully. This is 133 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 2: the police, just in case they didn't know what the 134 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 2: red and blue lights were for. Your van has been 135 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 2: identified as being wanted for a number of crimes in 136 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 2: the Skippsland region. You're all considered dangerous. Don't do anything stupid. 137 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 2: And the guy standing out the front just goes and 138 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 2: sticks straight up in the air, and I thought, oh, 139 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 2: that's all right, and so lift up your shirt please, Eddie. 140 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:58,800 Speaker 2: He pulls up your shirt and I said, turn around, 141 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 2: and he turns around. It's halfway around. Who drives past. 142 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 2: It's the German backpacker chicks. Evon is hanging out the 143 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 2: window with a video camera strapped to her eye and 144 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 2: a right fist raised into the air, screaming into the night. 145 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:19,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, gets them, gets them. This poor kid who's got 146 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 1: his got his shirt pulled up. There's just his jaws 147 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 1: on the floor as he watches. And I start laughing. 148 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 2: I've got under the tannoy and said, have a good trip, Yvon. 149 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 2: I go mate, drop your shirt, grab your license, come 150 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 2: back and see me. Everyone else stay in the van. 151 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:35,440 Speaker 2: He walks back. What was with the other van And 152 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:37,679 Speaker 2: I go, oh, mate, German backpacka chicks, you know what 153 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 2: they like? 154 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:41,079 Speaker 1: What was with all the crime? What crime? 155 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 2: The petrol thefts, the drive off Barnsdow Lakes, New Morella. 156 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 2: He goes, we haven't stopped in any of those places. 157 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 2: I'm thinking, yeah, if I search a van and find 158 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:49,679 Speaker 2: a hoop of number plates, your stuffed. 159 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 1: What about the. 160 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 2: Kangaroo, Oh from the pub? Yes, that's right, the pub? 161 00:08:55,720 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 1: He said, Oh yeah, the guy was. 162 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:02,679 Speaker 2: Just a nube and we grabbed it and threw it 163 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 2: out fifty meters up. We just wanted to piss him off, 164 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:09,600 Speaker 2: that's all. And I went, okay, I think there's an 165 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 2: offense in there somewhere. Do you have a license? Yeah, 166 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:14,199 Speaker 2: you got it on your No, okay, give me your details. 167 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:16,440 Speaker 2: So I got my head down and I'm writing his 168 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 2: name and an address that I'm going to check on 169 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 2: the computer. 170 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:20,679 Speaker 1: I look up. 171 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 2: Two guys are walking towards us from the direction of 172 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 2: the van. Both of them look mean, and they're carrying 173 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:36,720 Speaker 2: baseball bats. Oh no, Leon, the kid on talking to 174 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:43,600 Speaker 2: turns around, sees them, turns to me and says, who 175 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 2: are those two guys, you're kidding. I turned to him 176 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 2: and go, they're not with you, and he goes I've 177 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:55,200 Speaker 2: never seen him before, and I'm thinking, either bullshit, but 178 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 2: he doesn't look like it's bullshit, and like, I have 179 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:02,200 Speaker 2: no idea what's going on. So it's one of the 180 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 2: few times in my life I've actually had my pistol 181 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:07,680 Speaker 2: out of its revolve in my hand and my caps 182 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:11,440 Speaker 2: can spray out in the other hand. The two guys 183 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 2: walking towards us. When they get about ten meters away, 184 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:20,079 Speaker 2: the older guy in front stops, turns around, hands his 185 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 2: baseball bat to the guy behind, walks up to me, 186 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:29,480 Speaker 2: walks past me, up to Leon, grabs him shirt fronts 187 00:10:29,559 --> 00:10:34,080 Speaker 2: him and growls, whars meth and kangaroo. 188 00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:40,199 Speaker 1: You're kidding. It's the publican from the from where which. 189 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 2: Pace I won't say precisely, but it was in the region, 190 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:47,840 Speaker 2: and they'd thrown the baseball bats in the car and 191 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 2: they've gone in hot pursuit and they've my head was 192 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 2: driven past and they've pulled in in front of the 193 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:57,560 Speaker 2: van in front, but the van was wider than their car, 194 00:10:57,640 --> 00:10:59,120 Speaker 2: so I couldn't see it until I stuck my head 195 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:02,440 Speaker 2: out the side and I'm just sitting there thinking, oh, 196 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:04,240 Speaker 2: you've got to be joking. But then what happens is 197 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 2: the four other guys in the back of the van 198 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:08,960 Speaker 2: see Leon getting shirt fronted, and everyone piles out and 199 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:13,560 Speaker 2: it's on for young enough. So the only good thing 200 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:15,760 Speaker 2: about any of this is nobody wants to fight me. 201 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:16,679 Speaker 1: Oh good. 202 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:20,719 Speaker 2: So I'm giving little epsots on the radio to D 203 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:23,959 Speaker 2: twenty four, saying everything under control, one person out of 204 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:26,320 Speaker 2: the van at a time. Two guys have just rolled 205 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 2: up with baseball bats to seven guys having an argie barge. 206 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:33,640 Speaker 2: This is turning pears shapes, and I'm looking down at 207 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:35,960 Speaker 2: my little can of spray and I go this is 208 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:37,679 Speaker 2: just not going to cut it. So in the back 209 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:42,079 Speaker 2: we have the party packs, the big cans of spray. 210 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 2: We got a couple, so I grab one in each hand, 211 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:48,480 Speaker 2: walk up to everyone and say, okay, everyone calm down 212 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:52,720 Speaker 2: and shut up, or I'm spraying everyone. And Leon turns 213 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 2: to me and goes, don't do that, man, I've had 214 00:11:55,320 --> 00:12:00,720 Speaker 2: it before. That reallys But everyone calms down and the 215 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 2: publican are talking, and Leon goes, look, if you feel 216 00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:08,959 Speaker 2: that bad about your kangaroo will pay for it. So 217 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 2: I then go, hang on a minute, you're going to 218 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 2: pay for it? Yeah, So I go to the publican, 219 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 2: do you want to press charges? And the republican goes, well, 220 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:19,920 Speaker 2: not if he's going to pay for it. There's my 221 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 2: theft out the window. So I said, right, you two guys, 222 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 2: being the publican and he's son in law, you go 223 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:29,439 Speaker 2: back and wait in the car because they are drunk 224 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:31,559 Speaker 2: as and I'm going to have a chat to them 225 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:36,480 Speaker 2: about driving. You four guys go back and sit in 226 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 2: the van. Leon I still need to see some idea. 227 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 2: Leon turns to me and goes, this has been the 228 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 2: weirdest night of my life. I'm going it's coming close 229 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:50,320 Speaker 2: to mine, to Leon. So so we come back. The 230 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 2: two guys go back, get in the car, turn around. 231 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:52,960 Speaker 1: Drive off. 232 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:56,719 Speaker 2: They're all over the road, Me and Leon watching, and 233 00:12:56,800 --> 00:12:58,840 Speaker 2: Leon turns to me goes, they're drunk, and I go, no, 234 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:02,840 Speaker 2: they're not. They're absolutely plastered. And he goes, aren't you 235 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:06,840 Speaker 2: going to stop them? And I went no, because I'm 236 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 2: still tipping I've got mcrooks. Fifteen minutes later, Eden rolls up, 237 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:15,600 Speaker 2: we strip the van. I found a girl in the back. 238 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:19,600 Speaker 2: I don't know how she quite got there, but that 239 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 2: was it. But guess what, it's not them. There was 240 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:28,880 Speaker 2: a third yellow van driving round e Skipsland at the 241 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 2: same time on the stewing Knight stuff, also with five 242 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:33,360 Speaker 2: guys on board. 243 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 1: They're the ones doing. 244 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:37,600 Speaker 2: The petrol drive offs and the thefts. They haven't been 245 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 2: swapping number plates. It's two separate cars. It was just 246 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 2: a bit of bad luck with We didn't know that 247 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 2: until the next day when we found out. It was 248 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 2: a slightly different make, model and color. And the only 249 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:51,280 Speaker 2: thing these guys have done is the kangaroo and the 250 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 2: guy doesn't want to press charges. I've got nothing. So 251 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 2: by this stage everyone in his Skipsland is listening to 252 00:13:56,840 --> 00:14:00,559 Speaker 2: the radio what's happening, and they're expect me to come 253 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:03,360 Speaker 2: up and saying five persons under arrest are straight to 254 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:06,240 Speaker 2: the front bullbar and I'm driving back and charging every 255 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:09,200 Speaker 2: one with everything, And instead I came up with mark 256 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:13,439 Speaker 2: my last inquiries pending for a penalty notice, which is 257 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:16,760 Speaker 2: a ticket. And there's this pause and the operator comes 258 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:19,560 Speaker 2: back and says, Trig, how did you turn a crime 259 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 2: spree into a penalty notice? And I've gone, well, it 260 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:26,480 Speaker 2: wasn't easy, but I did it. Now, in hindsight, I'd 261 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:28,520 Speaker 2: have been better staying with the German backpack of chicks. 262 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:30,280 Speaker 2: I could have got a whole better result out of that. 263 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 1: I don't know about that. I don't think we want 264 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 1: to propagate. I don't think we want to propagate those 265 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:38,680 Speaker 1: sort of in my dreams. Possibly this is a funny story, 266 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 1: and it ends up a funny story and it's great. 267 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:45,120 Speaker 1: But if this were to do with young murders and things, this, 268 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 1: this is sort of stuff that can get people charged 269 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:52,560 Speaker 1: with things they didn't do because of a natural inclination 270 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 1: to think it's the same band exactly. 271 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 2: And there were three bands, yes, three vans are the 272 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:01,440 Speaker 2: same on the same time. And I've never in my 273 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:04,080 Speaker 2: thirty one years, I've never had another job that could 274 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 2: either come close to that. 275 00:15:05,920 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 1: That is a wonderful story. 276 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 2: So one of the other stories I had was I'm 277 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 2: learning about country policing, and one day we caught a 278 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 2: young kid, eight years old, Billy, stealing lollies on the 279 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 2: way home from school. Now, there's nothing you can do 280 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 2: with an eight year old that's stealing lollies except yelling 281 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:22,800 Speaker 2: him try and get his parents to do something about it. 282 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 2: So we got him in the back of the van. 283 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:27,720 Speaker 2: We drive home. It was about twenty kilometers north of Portland. 284 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 1: You could have capped him and gone over bumps, not 285 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 1: an eight year old. 286 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 2: So we we pull up outside and it's a dilapidated farmhouse. 287 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 2: We're talking three foot high grass growing up in the thing, 288 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:43,880 Speaker 2: rusty car bodies, front door, hanging off the hinges. I've 289 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 2: got Billy by the ear. I'm dragging him in. It's 290 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:49,160 Speaker 2: about six thirty at night, bed dinner time, and I 291 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 2: can hear voices coming from the kitchen. So I stick 292 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 2: my head around the corner and there's we'll call them 293 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:59,360 Speaker 2: the Smith family sitting at the dinner table, and Mars 294 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:01,240 Speaker 2: Smith is there. So I look around. I go get 295 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 2: Ama and she looks up and goes, what do you want? 296 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 2: And I go, well, it's Billy. We caught him stealing again. 297 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:09,360 Speaker 2: She goes, I told him. I told him, So you 298 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 2: go into your spiel and you try and say, now, look, my, 299 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:13,360 Speaker 2: you know what's going to happen if he keeps this up, 300 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:15,480 Speaker 2: don't you. It's going to wind up in prison like 301 00:16:15,520 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 2: his older brother Steven. I'm looking at this dinner table, 302 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 2: six adults sitting at it. Everyone has food on their plate. 303 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 2: One old bloke that down the end is eating. Nobody 304 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 2: else is touching their food. There's something I can't put 305 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 2: my finger on it. Billy sticks, he said. Around the 306 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:35,240 Speaker 2: quarter mass squeals at him. 307 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:36,720 Speaker 1: You get the bet. I'll deal with you later. 308 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 2: Poor kid scamp is off and we sort of finish 309 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:42,240 Speaker 2: up and go, okay, well we're going to go. But 310 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:44,560 Speaker 2: if it happens again, straight to prison. Straight to prison. 311 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:47,720 Speaker 2: You're not but you're try and get creative. As I 312 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:51,880 Speaker 2: turned to leave, the lady sitting next to the old 313 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 2: bloke who's eating, elbows in and says, hurry up, I'm 314 00:16:56,640 --> 00:17:00,920 Speaker 2: getting hungry. The old blow goes oh for crying out loud, 315 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 2: drops his knife and fork no joke, opens his mouth, 316 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 2: takes out his teeth, passes them to her. She puts 317 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 2: them in, she starts eating, and that's when it dawns 318 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:18,280 Speaker 2: on us. They're waiting for the teeth. True story? 319 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 1: Is that a real story? 320 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:26,520 Speaker 2: I told that we at an Australian Bravery Association conference 321 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 2: in Canberra one day, and I admit there were a 322 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:32,439 Speaker 2: few people like you who were a little bit lary 323 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 2: of the truth of it. But one of the guys 324 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 2: in the audience who I did not know, raised his 325 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:43,600 Speaker 2: hand and said, I know that family. It turns out 326 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:46,840 Speaker 2: he was a nurse at the Portland Hospital the same 327 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:48,440 Speaker 2: year as I was there, but I never met him, 328 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:50,959 Speaker 2: and he said they used to come in and eat 329 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 2: their sandwiches the same way. So if you want to 330 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:57,720 Speaker 2: get a confirmation on the truth of the story, phone 331 00:17:57,760 --> 00:18:01,199 Speaker 2: up Portland Police Station. Asked to speak to some of 332 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:07,280 Speaker 2: the long standing members and inquire as to the validity 333 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:08,200 Speaker 2: of it. 334 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:09,600 Speaker 1: Roughly where's that house. 335 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:16,879 Speaker 2: Roughly about twenty k north of Inland, But when we 336 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 2: finished the interview, I'll tell you their actual names. 337 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 1: Tony Wright my old time journo that was born and 338 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:24,800 Speaker 1: bred there and still lives there works he works at 339 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 1: the age. But Tony Wright grew up at Portland and 340 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 1: he will know that family. I reckon. 341 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:33,320 Speaker 2: Look, I honestly don't know if everyone was waiting for 342 00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:35,480 Speaker 2: the teeth, but certainly the lady next to him had 343 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:39,080 Speaker 2: put them in and started eating. And we sat in 344 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:41,640 Speaker 2: the car afterwards just with shocked looks on our faces 345 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:45,240 Speaker 2: and said, surely that can't be right. You can't have 346 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:48,680 Speaker 2: a universal fitting on a set of tenches. But then 347 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:51,480 Speaker 2: we worked out they're all genetically similar. It probably does 348 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:55,399 Speaker 2: fit good. So yes, I will remember that one un 349 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:56,320 Speaker 2: till the day I die. 350 00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:59,520 Speaker 1: Something that you might have seen it back of Omeo 351 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:03,119 Speaker 1: or day Go in the nineteen twenty No really really? 352 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:09,400 Speaker 1: Oh oh my goodness, mate, Mark Trigas, what's another story 353 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:13,560 Speaker 1: from your time as a remote policeman in remote parts 354 00:19:13,560 --> 00:19:14,200 Speaker 1: of Victoria. 355 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:18,960 Speaker 2: I will set the scene a smaller town than Malakuda, 356 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:20,320 Speaker 2: heading back towards Melbourne. 357 00:19:20,359 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 1: About an hour. 358 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:28,119 Speaker 2: Two locals sitting in an apartment with the old right, 359 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 2: having a bit of a choof the front door, gets 360 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:37,080 Speaker 2: kicked in in walks the assailant, who actually says who 361 00:19:37,119 --> 00:19:38,680 Speaker 2: wants to die first? 362 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:41,639 Speaker 1: Really, he's watching too much television. 363 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 2: The young guy smoking the joint takes a drag and 364 00:19:44,119 --> 00:19:47,640 Speaker 2: goes well and points to the other guy. 365 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:51,639 Speaker 1: Is that right you? 366 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:55,160 Speaker 2: As I are probably thinking he had something awesome axe machete, 367 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:58,680 Speaker 2: samurai saw it, But in this small town he had 368 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:01,639 Speaker 2: half a pair of nails and he's not afraid to 369 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:02,160 Speaker 2: use them. 370 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:03,240 Speaker 1: Is that right? 371 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:05,679 Speaker 2: So he had his thumb stuck in the nail, says as, 372 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:07,359 Speaker 2: And they were bent up and he formed a fist, 373 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:10,040 Speaker 2: and I swear they were coming about a centimeter out 374 00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 2: between his fingers. So the young guy jumps up, goes 375 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 2: what the f puts his hands up. The other guy 376 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 2: steps forward, punches in the arm, and he cops a 377 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:22,440 Speaker 2: mosquito bite through his arm. He looks down and goes 378 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:26,240 Speaker 2: Hugh runs out. Another guy tries to get off the ground. 379 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:29,719 Speaker 2: He was sitting down, so the assailant runs over and 380 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:31,119 Speaker 2: starts punching him. 381 00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:32,400 Speaker 1: So the other guy starts. 382 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:37,359 Speaker 2: Kicking him, and the second victim cops a miniuci through 383 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:41,600 Speaker 2: his thigh, his knee, his ankle, and his ass. Meanwhile, 384 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:45,000 Speaker 2: the young guy who's gone out has gone next door 385 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:49,720 Speaker 2: to wear resides the just moved to town, retired prostitute. 386 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:53,159 Speaker 2: I love this town, she hears what's going on? 387 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:56,200 Speaker 1: A small, small town. Yes, there is not a largish down. 388 00:20:56,960 --> 00:21:02,280 Speaker 2: Small She hears what's going on, says, not on my watch, 389 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:05,040 Speaker 2: and goes over to sort both the idiots out, picking 390 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:06,320 Speaker 2: up a lump of four B two on the way. 391 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:07,760 Speaker 2: Now you can tell this is just going to get better, 392 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 2: can't you. She walks in, sees idiot town. It's got 393 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:12,000 Speaker 2: plenty of four two in it? 394 00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:13,359 Speaker 1: Is that right? Yes? 395 00:21:14,560 --> 00:21:18,760 Speaker 2: She walks in, sees idiot one punching idiot two lines 396 00:21:18,840 --> 00:21:21,840 Speaker 2: him up and sconds him with a four bee. Doesn't 397 00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:24,320 Speaker 2: do a lot of good light pine, so she bashes 398 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:26,520 Speaker 2: him another couple of times until he turns around, takes 399 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:32,639 Speaker 2: it offer and says, don't do that. She goes stuff 400 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:35,040 Speaker 2: you suchine and wades into him with the fists. He 401 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:38,879 Speaker 2: still got the knife technically, so he grabs her holds 402 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:43,679 Speaker 2: her down. This gives ample opportunity for the second Stabbee 403 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:47,359 Speaker 2: to leg it into the kitchen. Now of the myriad 404 00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:51,560 Speaker 2: weapons available in a kitchen, he runs back out with 405 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:56,040 Speaker 2: a bong a bong a bong yeah right, lines him 406 00:21:56,119 --> 00:21:58,639 Speaker 2: up and smacks him in the head with it. Doesn't 407 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:02,440 Speaker 2: break tough bong sample bottle, but it did hurt him, 408 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 2: so he takes another swing and as he comes down, 409 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:09,040 Speaker 2: the guy peels out the side. He gets the girl underneath, 410 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:12,920 Speaker 2: elbow up, hits, shadows, lacerats of skin, stink and bob 411 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:16,640 Speaker 2: water everywhere, and then all the locals arrive and sit 412 00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:21,000 Speaker 2: on everyone until I get there. I am trying to 413 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 2: work out what happened. 414 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:26,360 Speaker 1: It would have taken some reconstruction. 415 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:30,879 Speaker 2: So I'm taking a statement off the second Stabbo and 416 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 2: he's telling me about the Sam book a bottle and 417 00:22:34,119 --> 00:22:38,200 Speaker 2: I look at him and I go, so you bond 418 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:43,119 Speaker 2: him and he goes, yeah, yeah, bond him and just 419 00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:47,560 Speaker 2: shake my head. Then I had to go see the prostitute. Hello, former, 420 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 2: she's retired. She was the retired sex wicker. She was 421 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:56,840 Speaker 2: she decided the country exactly and had actually retired to 422 00:22:56,880 --> 00:22:59,720 Speaker 2: the country. And I said, hello, I don't think we've 423 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:03,120 Speaker 2: been introduced. I believe you're new to town. She said, yeah, 424 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:05,720 Speaker 2: that's right, only been here six weeks. I said, oh, 425 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:08,480 Speaker 2: where were you before that? She goes, oh, I did 426 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:11,760 Speaker 2: three years inside for the love of my life. So 427 00:23:11,920 --> 00:23:15,359 Speaker 2: I said, so you and the love of your life 428 00:23:15,359 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 2: have moved to the town and she said no, usho, 429 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:21,640 Speaker 2: I wasn't there when I got out. So I left 430 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:25,240 Speaker 2: him and I said, that's so sad. How did you 431 00:23:25,240 --> 00:23:27,800 Speaker 2: guys meet? And she says, well, I was doing a 432 00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:32,679 Speaker 2: burglary and I'm like, oh, you're kidding me. And she 433 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:36,000 Speaker 2: tells the story, which I am avidly listening to, and 434 00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:38,439 Speaker 2: she says, well, I broke a window and I crawled 435 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:40,080 Speaker 2: in and he was asleep in the bed and he 436 00:23:40,119 --> 00:23:44,800 Speaker 2: woke up and he went hello, and I said, oh, sorry, 437 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:48,040 Speaker 2: I didn't know anyone was here, and he said that's okay. 438 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:50,280 Speaker 2: So I said, if you've got any money, and he 439 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:52,360 Speaker 2: said no, but I'll swap you some weed for a job. 440 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:55,840 Speaker 2: And he said that sounds great and never left. That 441 00:23:56,160 --> 00:23:58,359 Speaker 2: is the most romantic. 442 00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:01,960 Speaker 1: Tale that I have ever heard. Where did that happen? 443 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:04,320 Speaker 1: Do you think you are? It was a town about 444 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:08,440 Speaker 1: an hour away from Malacuda Town in Victoria. 445 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:12,119 Speaker 2: Yes, in Victoria, so that has to be. I mean, 446 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:13,920 Speaker 2: you're out as a couple, you meet another couple. How 447 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:16,000 Speaker 2: do you guys meet? That is a conversation started I 448 00:24:16,320 --> 00:24:17,040 Speaker 2: ever heard one? 449 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:19,640 Speaker 1: Was it? It had a timber mill in it this town? 450 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:21,680 Speaker 2: It possibly could have, Yes, would have it. 451 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:23,840 Speaker 1: It's not anymore. Puh. 452 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:27,240 Speaker 2: You may be right on that one. So all three 453 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:31,560 Speaker 2: went to hospital. The two guys who were stabbed were 454 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:34,320 Speaker 2: told not to annoy the other doctor because it didn't 455 00:24:34,359 --> 00:24:36,960 Speaker 2: even break the skin. But the poor guy who started 456 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:38,919 Speaker 2: at all has now been hit in the head so 457 00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:41,360 Speaker 2: many times he wound up with a subduel in atoma 458 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:44,280 Speaker 2: and they had to operate. And then we figured, well, 459 00:24:44,320 --> 00:24:47,679 Speaker 2: that was probably a pretty good result from what happened anyway, 460 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:49,600 Speaker 2: And then the other two guys didn't want to make 461 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:51,880 Speaker 2: any complaints, so the whole lot just sort of went away. 462 00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:57,720 Speaker 1: And did she ever find her lost love? No, No, 463 00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:00,800 Speaker 1: I actually had a fair bit of time. I'm for her. 464 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:06,119 Speaker 2: She obviously had had quite traumatic, tough life, but she 465 00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:11,640 Speaker 2: had guts. Yeah, I mean, just to take on two guys, 466 00:25:12,040 --> 00:25:14,600 Speaker 2: even with a lump of four by two still takes guts. 467 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:19,320 Speaker 1: And I admire that. So, yes, good, that is a 468 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:22,880 Speaker 1: very very good story. Now, these stories and many others, of. 469 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:25,400 Speaker 2: Course, well there's exty one in the book. 470 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:29,960 Speaker 1: There's sixty one stories. Backup is three Hours Away by 471 00:25:30,280 --> 00:25:34,760 Speaker 1: former policeman Mark Tregellis, who is north of two meters tall, 472 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:41,040 Speaker 1: and they're remarkable stories. Mark, They're terrific. It's really good. 473 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:45,640 Speaker 2: I've got to say that the paperbacks out, the ebook 474 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:51,200 Speaker 2: you can get as well online, and today the audiobook comes. 475 00:25:50,920 --> 00:25:54,320 Speaker 1: Out and you read it or someone else. No. 476 00:25:54,920 --> 00:26:00,320 Speaker 2: Timothy Knightley is a professional voice actor and last I 477 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:03,639 Speaker 2: I looked online, he was living in London. But because 478 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:09,400 Speaker 2: it's so expensive to create professionally done audio books, they 479 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:13,160 Speaker 2: prefer to use professional voice actors. One of the things 480 00:26:13,200 --> 00:26:15,000 Speaker 2: I did say is that I don't think I mentioned 481 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:18,479 Speaker 2: is that the book was one of six which was 482 00:26:18,520 --> 00:26:22,560 Speaker 2: selected by the Melbourne Film Festival for potential adaptation into 483 00:26:22,560 --> 00:26:23,600 Speaker 2: a TV series. 484 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:27,320 Speaker 1: Oh that's good. So because this is where this is 485 00:26:27,359 --> 00:26:33,760 Speaker 1: sort of where Heartbeat I remember exactly, or Country Practice. 486 00:26:34,119 --> 00:26:39,240 Speaker 1: It's got a bit of all of that sort of excitement, pathos, 487 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:42,280 Speaker 1: humor all mixed in one half hour episode. 488 00:26:42,359 --> 00:26:44,200 Speaker 2: I don't know if it will come to that. There's 489 00:26:44,240 --> 00:26:46,000 Speaker 2: a lot that needs to do and it'll be two 490 00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:48,320 Speaker 2: or three years if it does, but it would be 491 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:51,600 Speaker 2: absolutely amazing if that was the case. So if anybody 492 00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:53,760 Speaker 2: would like to pick up a copy of the book, 493 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:57,520 Speaker 2: it's available in Australia on big W. You can walk 494 00:26:57,560 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 2: into a Big W shop and they have it under 495 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:04,399 Speaker 2: True Crime. You can also order it online at big W, 496 00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:09,480 Speaker 2: at Amazon and at nearly all the other online bookshops. 497 00:27:09,760 --> 00:27:16,720 Speaker 2: The audiobook is available on Audible. So I'm really interested 498 00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:19,679 Speaker 2: to see. I can't wait to hear what Timothy is 499 00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:20,440 Speaker 2: like when. 500 00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:23,800 Speaker 1: He saw I'd love to hear it. I doubt he's 501 00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:26,280 Speaker 1: much better than you are yourself, to be honest. The 502 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:29,399 Speaker 1: beautiful thing about these stories, and we've only heard a 503 00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:31,440 Speaker 1: sprinkling of them, there are many more in the book. 504 00:27:32,280 --> 00:27:36,520 Speaker 1: The beautiful thing is they have the whi of authenticity, 505 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:40,440 Speaker 1: and the authentic always appeals to people. And I think 506 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:44,920 Speaker 1: that out there among our listeners, they will love the 507 00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:47,520 Speaker 1: sound of something authentic, and I think a lot of 508 00:27:47,560 --> 00:27:49,480 Speaker 1: people are going to want to read your book. 509 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:52,679 Speaker 2: That's one of the things that people who've spoken to 510 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:55,199 Speaker 2: me who've read it were surprised at. They said that 511 00:27:55,520 --> 00:27:58,560 Speaker 2: they had no idea that this is what remote area 512 00:27:58,640 --> 00:28:02,800 Speaker 2: police officers got up to. They only see you giving 513 00:28:02,800 --> 00:28:07,679 Speaker 2: out tickets or doing PBTs or road accidents or something 514 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:14,320 Speaker 2: like that. But there's this incredible other side of raising 515 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:18,840 Speaker 2: a family in a community. You can't do things like 516 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:22,040 Speaker 2: charge someone for drink driving and then go to the 517 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:24,920 Speaker 2: pub the next day that get drunk and everybody sees 518 00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:27,680 Speaker 2: you jump into your car and drive home drunk, because 519 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:31,080 Speaker 2: it just takes away your credibility. So you have to 520 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:35,160 Speaker 2: try and do that. But twenty six of my thirty 521 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:39,840 Speaker 2: one year career was in remote country areas. During that time, 522 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:42,720 Speaker 2: I broke my back, my knee, my shoulder, my elbow, 523 00:28:42,920 --> 00:28:44,880 Speaker 2: I had two bouts of post trauma, and I was 524 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:48,560 Speaker 2: shot and all those stories. 525 00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:50,920 Speaker 1: Are in there, and we won't talk about the shot 526 00:28:50,960 --> 00:28:55,840 Speaker 1: one because I happen to know the true story behind it, 527 00:28:56,440 --> 00:28:58,520 Speaker 1: and I think it will come as a nice surprise. 528 00:28:58,920 --> 00:29:02,080 Speaker 1: It will, yes or not, I suppose think it's not 529 00:29:02,120 --> 00:29:04,720 Speaker 1: what most people think. No, that's good, Mark. You've told 530 00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:06,800 Speaker 1: us a heap of good stories and I don't want 531 00:29:06,800 --> 00:29:09,920 Speaker 1: you to tell us all of another one. But someone 532 00:29:10,280 --> 00:29:15,480 Speaker 1: mentioned to me something about taking on neo Nazis, but 533 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:18,920 Speaker 1: in your pajamas or in your jobs or what was that? 534 00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:20,720 Speaker 1: Don't tell the story. 535 00:29:20,800 --> 00:29:23,840 Speaker 2: I don't tell the story. But basically, there were three 536 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:28,280 Speaker 2: Neo Nazis just out of prison that were beating a 537 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:33,640 Speaker 2: woman almost to death, and I intervened, dressed in barefoot 538 00:29:33,800 --> 00:29:36,280 Speaker 2: in a pair of pajamas. But in order to hear 539 00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:37,800 Speaker 2: the rest of that, they'll have to buy the book. 540 00:29:38,120 --> 00:29:41,360 Speaker 1: I think that's a good idea. Mark, thanks for coming 541 00:29:41,440 --> 00:29:47,120 Speaker 1: in once more, and now it's goodbye forever or until 542 00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:55,480 Speaker 1: the next book. Absolute pleasure, Andrew, thanks for listening. Life 543 00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:58,720 Speaker 1: in Crimes is a Sunday Herald Sun production for True 544 00:29:58,760 --> 00:30:03,640 Speaker 1: Crime Australia. Our producer is Johnty Burton. For my columns, 545 00:30:03,680 --> 00:30:08,240 Speaker 1: features and more, go to herald'sn dot com dot au 546 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:13,920 Speaker 1: forward slash Andrew rule one word. For advertising inquiries, go 547 00:30:13,960 --> 00:30:18,840 Speaker 1: to news Podcasts sold at news dot com dot au. 548 00:30:19,640 --> 00:30:24,520 Speaker 1: That is all one word news podcast's sold. And if 549 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:28,920 Speaker 1: you want further information about this episode, links are in 550 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:29,920 Speaker 1: the description.