The Crime Couch with Rochelle Jackson

It's not always easy to have your first crime fiction novel published - but Tara Oldfield has succeeded! Her first book Diamonds, Furs & Murder: The Many Crimes of Mona Hayes has been published by Ginninderra Press and no doubt she's planning her next one.

Tara is a PR and communications professional who currently works at the State Archives. She's written for Traces Magazine and Ancestor publications and in 2004 won a Mander Jones Awards for her short historical fiction, Bitter Salts. When she's not writing, watching or listening to crime stories - she's singing! 

Contains Snappy @2021 performed Jonathan Boyle with music written by Jonathan Boyle, courtesy of Premium Beat.

Post-production by Rob Johnson from On Replay www.onreplay.com.au and acknowledgement to Stephen Peters for his assistance and support. 

Thanks for listening. Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. We'd love to hear your thoughts, and it makes it easier for the rest of the podcast world to find The Crime Couch.

John Bodinnar had a brilliant career both inside and outside Victoria Police, retiring after 35 years as a Chief Superintendent. But one case he investigated has remained with him forever. The abduction of 8-year-old Eloise Worledge.

 During 1974 as a young Detective, John was transferred to Moorabbin CIB and was the first on the scene at Eloise’s house. He and his partner were initially suspicious about the information provided by the family and evidence at the crime scene. The case remains one of Victoria’s longest unsolved child disappearances. John has never forgotten the case and hopes that the Victoria Police decision to increase the reward to $1 million dollars for information leading to Eloise’s whereabouts will bring closure to the family. John is now 80 years old and still lives in hope this case will be solved in his lifetime. He speaks exclusively to The Crime Couch in the final of this two-part special. 

Contains Snappy @2021 performed Jonathan Boyle with music written by Jonathan Boyle, courtesy of Premium Beat.

Post-production by Rob Johnson from On Replay www.onreplay.com.au and acknowledgement to Stephen Peters for his assistance and support. 

Thanks for listening. Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. We'd love to hear your thoughts, and it makes it easier for the rest of the podcast world to find The Crime Couch.

 

John G Bodinnar started as an Albury car salesman before joining Victoria Police. He’s had a stellar career inside and outside “the job” retiring as a Chief Superintendent. John was awarded an Australian Police Medal for services to community policing in developing countries.

Initially stationed at South Melbourne, then St Kilda’s Traffic Operations Group before various Crime Car Squads and Moorabbin CIB. This was where he became involved in the Eloise Worledge abduction case. John rose through the ranks, and was promoted to Superintendent in charge of the new Traffic Camera Office. As a Chief Superintendent he became the Director of the Commercial Development Group which saw him move to Johannesburg.

After leaving Victoria Police, John worked extensively overseas in the Middle East and Africa. He was contracted with Botswana Police, Tonga Police, Lancashire Constabulary and South Africa’s Dept of Justice.

Contains Snappy @2021 performed Jonathan Boyle with music written by Jonathan Boyle, courtesy of Premium Beat.

Post-production by Rob Johnson from On Replay www.onreplay.com.au and acknowledgement to Stephen Peters for his assistance and support. 

Thanks for listening. Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. We'd love to hear your thoughts, and it makes it easier for the rest of the podcast world to find The Crime Couch.

If you were to commit a crime, Dr Deb Bennett could make an assessment about what sort of a person you are, and what your motivation was without actually meeting you. 

The former Victoria Police Detective Senior Sergeant is a clinical Forensic Psychologist and a Behaviour Analyst - or a Profiler. She worked as a specialist investigator in cold case sex crimes and was also an operational police member finishing with 42 years under her belt. Deb currently works in private practice. 

Contains Snappy @2021 performed Jonathan Boyle with music written by Jonathan Boyle, courtesy of Premium Beat.

Post-production by Rob Johnson from On Replay www.onreplay.com.au and acknowledgement to Stephen Peters for his assistance and support. 

Thanks for listening. Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. We'd love to hear your thoughts, and it makes it easier for the rest of the podcast world to find The Crime Couch.

 

It's not every day I interview someone who's served in both the Royal Australian Airforce and the Royal Australian Navy; Arthur "Artie" Heather has.

He spent 20 years in the RAAF and a further three decades in the RAN; his last twenty years in the Naval Reserve. At the same time, he was employed at the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). Artie's time in the Navy saw him serve on two Special Operation tours in Oberon Class Submarines.

Contains Snappy @2021 performed Jonathan Boyle with music written by Jonathan Boyle, courtesy of Premium Beat.

Post-production by Rob Johnson from On Replay www.onreplay.com.au and acknowledgement to Stephen Peters for his assistance and support. 

Thanks for listening. Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. We'd love to hear your thoughts, and it makes it easier for the rest of the podcast world to find The Crime Couch.

We all recall the first Gulf War, the rescue of British sailor Tony Bullimore in the Southern Ocean, the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race rescue and the disappearance of MH370 Boeing 777. These are some of the major events in Arthur "Artie" Heather's illustrious career. 

Artie spent 20 years in the Royal Australian Airforce and a further 30 years in the Royal Australian Navy - his last 20 in the Naval Reserve. At the same time, he was employed at the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. 

Contains Snappy @2021 performed Jonathan Boyle with music written by Jonathan Boyle, courtesy of Premium Beat.

Post-production by Rob Johnson from On Replay www.onreplay.com.au and acknowledgement to Stephen Peters for his assistance and support. 

Thanks for listening. Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. We'd love to hear your thoughts, and it makes it easier for the rest of the podcast world to find The Crime Couch.

After nearly 43 years of service, former Victoria Police Sergeant Amanda "Mandy" Crowley has finally hung up the reins. Mandy rode horses from the age of 5; so, after graduating from the Police Academy, it made sense that she join the Mounted Branch. Mandy is the longest serving female member of the Mounted Branch and the first in charge of rider and horse training.

She's probably worked more demonstrations than anyone else in Victoria Police, took part in the Atlanta Olympics as part of the Security Team program and even rode horse in the Victoria State Opera's international production of "Carmen".

Contains Snappy @2021 performed Jonathan Boyle with music written by Jonathan Boyle, courtesy of Premium Beat.

Post-production by Rob Johnson from On Replay www.onreplay.com.au and acknowledgement to Stephen Peters for his assistance and support. 

Thanks for listening. Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. We'd love to hear your thoughts, and it makes it easier for the rest of the podcast world to find The Crime Couch.

Reverend Dr Drew Mellor has just retired after 6 years with Victoria Police. The former Senior Police Chaplain is highly qualified in the Anglican Diocese having previously been a lead pastor at the Glen Waverly and Deep Creek Anglican Churches. He was the Director of the Centre for Youth and Children's Ministry at Ridley Theological College and worked in the Accident and Emergency Department of Box Hill Hospital. 

Drew's also worked with Scouts Australia and is a qualified Nurse. He can now sit back and reflect on his many achievements and years of service. 

Contains Snappy @2021 performed Jonathan Boyle with music written by Jonathan Boyle, courtesy of Premium Beat.

Post-production by Rob Johnson from On Replay www.onreplay.com.au and acknowledgement to Stephen Peters for his assistance and support. 

Thanks for listening. Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. We'd love to hear your thoughts, and it makes it easier for the rest of the podcast world to find The Crime Couch.

It's the end of season 5 on The Crime Couch and what a year it has been! This is a compilation of the 22 episodes during 2025. Every interview has been a revealing insight into the lives of men and women "in the job". And many people outside the job. 

I want to thank everyone who joined me this year on The Crime Couch. It continues to be real pleasure and privilege to hear your stories. A special thank you must go to The Crime Couch's editor Rob Johnson from On Replay. This is the last episode for this year, so have a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy holiday! I look forward to you joining me again on The Crime Couch in 2026!

Contains Snappy @2021 performed Jonathan Boyle with music written by Jonathan Boyle, courtesy of Premium Beat.

Post-production by Rob Johnson from On Replay www.onreplay.com.au and acknowledgement to Stephen Peters for his assistance and support. 

Thanks for listening. Please take the time to rate & review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. We'd love to hear your thoughts, and it makes it easier for the rest of the podcast world to find The Crime Couch.

This is the second of a two-part interview with Brian Doherty. Brian retired as an Inspector from Victoria Police. He spent 19 years in the CIB, the Consorting Squad, the Major Crime and Drug Squads; he also did a stint in community policing at Broadmeadows.  

While some turn to lawn bowls after retirement, Brian certainly doesn't let the grass grow under his feet. He's held managerial roles at the Sandringham Club, the Health Workers Union, Geelong Harness Racing Inc, a tropical reef shipyard in Cairns and the magnificent Collingwood Football Club to name a few. Currently, Brian's halfway through a law degree.  

Contains Snappy @2021 performed Jonathan Boyle with music written by Jonathan Boyle, courtesy of Premium Beat.

Post-production by Rob Johnson from On Replay www.onreplay.com.au and acknowledgement to Stephen Peters for his assistance and support. 

Thanks for listening. Please take the time to rate & review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. We'd love to hear your thoughts, and it makes it easier for the rest of the podcast world to find The Crime Couch.