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Who the Hell is Hamish? Bonus material

Additional material from the podcast, including in-depth interviews with the victims of Hamish McLaren.

Who the Hell is Hamish?
Who the Hell is Hamish?

Hamish McLaren’s story was so large and lively that we couldn’t nearly fit all the interesting material we gathered into the eight episodes of this podcast series, Who the Hell is Hamish?

So each week we are releasing an extended interview, exclusively available to subscribers of The Australian. Here you’ll find new details and information never heard before.

• PICTURES: The key people involved

• TIMELINE: Key developments in the life of conman

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Episode 1 bonus: Extended interview with Tracy Hall

Tracy Hall was Max Tavita’s first girlfriend and Hamish McLaren’s last victim. In this interview, she explains at length how she met Max, how they fell in love, and her sense of betrayal when everything fell apart.

• MAGAZINE FEATURE: ‘He betrayed me on every level’

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Episode 2 bonus: Extended interview with Lisa Ho

Hamish McLaren created a perfect storm when he inserted himself into the life of fashion designer Lisa Ho. As her business slowed and her marriage crumbled, Hamish became an antagonistic wedge. Then things imploded.

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Episode 3 bonus: Extended interview with Catherine Coleman

Catherine Coleman watched from the sidelines as Max Tavita entranced her good friend Tracy Hall. It’s very difficult to burst the Hamish bubble, but she tried her hardest, fact checking his story however she could. But what do you do when you find evidence, but your friend refuses to take it seriously?

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Episode 4 bonus: Extended interview with Jack Rosen

Jack thought he had a solid role model when Hamish McLaren married his mum, Bec Rosen. But soon the spotlight fell on his high school sweetheart, as Hamish betrayed the family that had let him into their lives.

• EMAILS: Correspondence shows a marriage under strain

• EMAILS: Hamish cons the marriage counsellor

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Episode 5 bonus: Extended interview with Matt Nable

Before Matt became a successful actor and screenwriter he was a rugby league player, but he gave up being the Manly strength and conditioning coach to be Hamish McLaren’s personal trainer. Matt taught Hamish how to box, and he witnessed his jet-setting, extravagant lifestyle.

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Episode 6 bonus: Extended interview with James Leigh

James Leigh is Canadian security consultant and former US Intelligence and Homeland Security operative, he claims to be able to collect stolen funds which cannot be recovered by conventional methods.

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Episode 7 bonus: Extended interview with Tim Watson-Munro

Tim Watson-Munro is a criminal psychologist with 40 years experience analysing offenders in prisons. Tim hasn’t examined Hamish but listening to the podcast he believes Hamish is a psychopath who operates at the top 1 percent of offenders.

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Episode 8 bonus: Extended interview with Nick Park

Nick Park is a trader who worked alongside Hamish Watson on the Sydney Futures trading floor in the mid 1990s, he suspected something was off with Hamish from the start.

• LETTERS FROM JAIL: Hamish writes to Tracy Hall

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Episode 9 bonus: Extended interview with Jane

As a bonus for all listeners, we are publishing the full interview with Jane, recorded in her house north of Sydney. She speaks at length about her experiences of Hamish, the impact it had on her life, and how she hopes to begin moving on.

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Episode 10 bonus: Judge Charteris’ full sentencing remarks

The swan song of Judge Colin Charteris - his final words from the bench, the sentencing of Hamish McLaren.

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Bonus material will be released with each new episode.

Do you know Hamish McLaren or have a story about him? Contact Greg at hamishpodcast@theaustralian.com.au

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Greg Bearup
Greg BearupFeature writer, The Weekend Australian Magazine

Greg Bearup is a feature writer at The Weekend Australian Magazine and was previously The Australian's South Asia Correspondent. He has been a journalist for more than thirty years having worked at The Armidale Express, The Inverell Times, The Newcastle Herald, The Sydney Morning Herald and was at Good Weekend Magazine before moving to The Weekend Australian Magazine in 2012. He is a three-time winner of the Walkley Award, and has written two books, Adventures in Caravanastan and Exit Wounds, written with Major General John Cantwell. He is also the creator of the hit podcast, Who The Hell is Hamish?

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/podcasts/who-the-hell-is-hamish-bonus-material/news-story/85947322483224183e51872aac3e4217