Nowhere Child: Bonus material
Additional material from the Nowhere Child podcast, including in-depth interviews, photographs and more.
The investigation into the disappearance of William Tyrrell is one of the largest, and most expensive in Australian history. It is also one that has been bedevilled by secrecy and miscalculations.
Here you will find extended interviews with experts featured in the Nowhere Child podcast, and other people involved in the case, as well as written features, photographs and more.
New bonus material will be released each week.
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• Feature story:
William Tyrrell’s memory won’t fade
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• The people involved:
Those you’ll hear from, or about, during the podcast
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• Episode 3 bonus episode:
Extended interview with Shari Forbes
Forensic scientist Professor Shari Forbes established the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research, also known as the Body Farm. Formerly of the University of Technology Sydney, she’s now setting up a new human decomposition research facility in Canada at the University of Quebec. Professor Forbes discusses search strategies from dogs to drones, DNA detection and profiling.
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• Episode 4 bonus episode:
Extended interview with Detective Inspector Hans Rupp
Detective Inspector Hans Rupp is the former head of the investigation into the disappearance of William Tyrrell. Surrounded by framed diplomas and certificates in the study of his north-west Sydney home, the retired cop covers all aspects of his 40-year career in the NSW police force: responding to the Granville train disaster, his work in the robbery and homicide squads, and his final case.
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• The suspicious cars:
Suspicious vehicles recalled by William’s foster mother
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• New photographs:
Photographs and documents revealed at the inquiry
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• Episode 6 bonus episode:
Extended interview with Dr Nell Musgrove
Dr Musgrove’s research into foster care over three years has recently been published. Her books include The Scars Remain: A Long History of Forgotten Australians and Children’s Institutions.
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• Video walkthrough:
Police walkthrough with Ronald Chapman, a neighbour who saw two suspicious cars on the morning William Tyrrell disappeared. The video was released by the coronial inquest into William’s disappearance.
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• Episode 7 bonus episode:
Extended interview with Dr Dee Michell
Dr Michell is an academic from the University of Adelaide. Dr Michell, who was herself in foster care for 15 years, has written book about the history of foster care in Australia. She writes the blog Real Life Superheroes inspired by Ethiopian British poet Lemn Sissay.
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• Video walkthroughs:
Police walkthrough with Bill Spedding — a washing machine repairman who became a person of interest during the investigation into William’s disappearance.
Police walkthrough with Margaret Spedding, the wife of Bill Spedding.
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• Episode 9 bonus episodes:
Extended interview with Lanai Scarr
Lanai Scarr is a federal political reporter based in Canberra. She’s the mother of four children, including triplets. She is a former foster child, with a ‘chaotic’ childhood — she was first removed from her maternal mother at two weeks old. Lanai is now working on a memoir. We spoke to her at Parliament House about how she pieced together her childhood memories.
Extended interview with Ally (pseudonym)
Ally is a well-educated, accomplished woman and a new mum. She always wanted to give back to the community, so she decided to start caring for foster children while she was still single. She now cares for two brothers who are living with her permanently. Becoming a foster carer is no easy process and the emotional journey has been intense for Ally — it has taken a toll on her. Ally wants to remain anonymous, but here is some of her story about becoming a foster carer:
Extended interview with Jesse Simpson
Jesse was a foster child. He’s grown up now, but has chosen to continue living with his foster parents. He’s part of the family, and calls his foster parents Mum and Dad. Overall his foster experience has worked out incredibly well for Jesse. He’s now a part of a program called HomeStretch. The scheme aims to convince governments to extend foster care past the age of eighteen so that foster kids, like other kids, can study at university and still live at home, with assistance from the people who love them.
Extended interview with Richard Rose, childhood trauma expert
Richard Rose is a childhood trauma expert who trains social workers on Therapeutic Life Story Work; compiling case files, records, interviews, photos, and making a This Is Your Life type book for foster kids so they can better understand who they are and how their past is affecting them.
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