Rochelle Jackson Blog

"Midnight Son" - Victorian Opera gets into true crime

Fri, 18 May 2012 04:30:00 GMT

I went along somewhat reluctantly to the "world premiere" of Midnight Son, Victorian Opera's version of the crime case involving Tania Herman and Joe and Marie Korp. I'm not a fan of opera as an art form and wondered whether this performance was exploiting a horrendous real life crime that really doesn't need to be dramatised.

In my third book, Partners and Crime, I've written about the case from Tania Herman's perspective. My chapter features interviews with Tania in Dame Phyllis Frost Prison during 2010-11. So I know about this case and in particular, Tania's point of view. I'd also interviewed Midnight Son's composer Gordon Kerry on ABC Radio on my "Crime Couch" program last year.

I still wonder whether opera is the best art form to convey this bizarre, real life case, although fans of this art form will disagree and say it contains all the ingredients necessary for an opera; drama, lust, passion, murder, betrayal - what more could you want?!

I was surprisingly compelled by Midnight Son and I didn't expect to be. Gordon Kerry's score is achingly beautiful and is the glue that joins all the drama and characters together. Louis Nowra's libretto - which was written using Tania's emails about her lover Joe after she believed he was dead in a car-crash in Barcelona - and sung by actress Dimity Shepherd is poignant.

However, I felt Tania wouldn't be particularly happy about how she is portrayed. The names have been changed, but of course it's obvious that "Clara Johnson" is Tania Herman. Clara's character isn't drawn as sympathetically as the "Marissa Clark"/Maria Korp character played by actress Antoinette Halloran. Joe Korp's character "Ray Clark" is played by actor Byron Watson. He does a great job of playing a highly manipulative and conflicted man who's torn apart by the love of two different women.

Midnight Son is compelling and entertaining. Put aside your judgment and go and see the show. It's on May 16-23 May, 2012 at the Malthouse Theatre in South Melbourne, Melbourne. Have a look at how a crime case that has gripped and horrified Melbourne has morphed into an opera.

Can we torque?

Sat, 05 May 2012 05:50:00 GMT

Thought I'd better blog after not blogging for so long....

This week I'm doing two major talks - I'm talking about my new book, Partners and Crime at the RACV City Club in Melbourne on Thursday 10 May at 2 pm. Bookings can be made by calling Rachel Balding ph.(03) 9944 8987.

Then that evening, I'm doing an "in-conversation" with UK crime fiction author, Peter James at The Wheeler Centre from 7.15pm -8.15pm. His new book, Not Dead Yet is a real page-turner, I can highly recommend it. It'll be a great chat. For further information, please suss out this link.

http://wheelercentre.com/calendar/event/peter-james-perfect-people/

Looks like the Crime Couch will also be returning to ABC Radio on the ABC Overnight's program with Trevor Choppily. Watch this space for further details.

Drving the Partners and Crime media bus!

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 01:54:00 GMT

I've been driving the media PR bus during the last month for my new book, Partners and Crime!

I've done two television interviews; Nine Network's Weekend Today and ABC TV News Breakfast programs, ten radio interviews including 774 ABC's Conversation Hour with Jon Faine, Jill Singer and Miriam Margolyes, Sydney's 2GB Drive with Ben Fordham, Brisbane's 4BC's Evenings with Walter Williams, Perth's 6PR The Weekender with Paul Cook and ABC Local Radio Nationwide Overnights with Trevor Chappell.

I've also been interviewed by five print/on-line media organisations including Woman's Day, Victoria's The Age and on-line magazine, The Hoopla. I've spoken at Sydney's Shearers Bookshop and the Concord Library. The Australian Womens Weekly also published a five page extract from my Tania Herman chapter in their March edition.

Criminal barrister and QC Philip Dunn launched the book in front of family, friends and colleagues on Sunday 26 February at Feddish, Federation Square , MC was former ABC TV broadcaster, Kathy Bowlen. Jeannie Cako, Mary-Ann Read, Ann-Marie Presland and Fran Stratford, whose stories I've written about in Partners and Crime also attended as VIP guests.

Today, I spoke with Melbourne's Triple M's Hot Brekky crew - not surprisingly, Mick Molloy asked me about conjugal rights in prison!? Ex-footballer Luke Darcy threw me some intelligent questions - it received a good wrap! The interview will be on-air either Thursday 8 or Friday 9 March.

Here's some links to the Partners and Crime media:

Saturday 25 February Nine Network's Weekend Today program:

http://today.ninemsn.com.au/videoindex.aspx?videoid=01f77d35-ef35-4483-a0c5-a853c3dd4125

The Age article published the day after the launch of Partners and Crime –

http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/books/real-criminal-wives-bust-the-gangsters-moll-myth-20120226-1twor.html

Finally, here’s a link to The Hoopla, an on-line magazine owned by Wendy Harmer.

http://thehoopla.com.au/partners-crime/

Partners and Crime - when too much publicity can never be enough!

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:30:00 GMT

The publicity for my new book, Partners and Crime (Allen & Unwin) has begun! The book will be available on the shelves at your nearest good bookstore on Monday 27 February.

Today, a 5 page extract from my chapter on Tania Herman is featured in this month's Australian Womens Weekly. What people don't realise are that these extracts are edited from the book, but it's been done very carefully and I made sure the extract reflected what the chapter is about.

On Monday, there will be a feature about Mary-Ann Read and her story which is the last chapter of my book in Woman's Day.

I'm heading to Sydney where I'll be doing interviews tomorrow with Radio 2GB Drive program and Ben Fordham, and with ABC Radio National's Life Matters with Natasha Mitchell. I've already spoken to 4GB's Evenings broadcaster Walter Williams and this interview will be played Monday 27 February during their 'Crime Time' segment.

Part of my publicity tour will include speaking events on Thursday night at Shearers On Norton bookshop in Leichhardt at 7.30pm and on Friday I'll be speaking at 1pm at the Concorde Library.

I'm also looking forward to doing a pre-record interview on Channel 9's Weekend Today program and presenter Leila McKinnon - who I used to work with at Channel 9. The interview will be on Sunday's Today program between 7-9am.

Busy as a bee - and loving it! Sunday is the Partners and Crime book launch! Watch this space for further info...

Inside a serial killer's mind

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:33:00 GMT

Life as a true crime author isn't always what it's cracked up to be - but it's great when you're involved in fascinating conversations like the one I had last week.

I took part in an interview on ABC Radio Darwin's Mornings program 105.7 with broadcaster Kate O'Toole and Professor James Ogloff. He's a Professor of clinical forensic psychology and the Director of the Centre for Forensic Behaviorial Science at Monash University. We explored the mind of a serial killer on-air. Professor Ogloff was able to give his opinion based on his experience working with notorious criminals like child-killer Derek Percy and mass murderer Julian Knight and I talked about my experience of writing and researching serial killer Ivan Milt for my second book, Inside their Minds (Allen & Unwin.) For this chapter I corresponded with Ivan Milat from his cell in Supermax, Gouburn prison.

On-air we discussed what creates a serial killer, are they born or bred and the characteristics of someone who kills multiple times.

It was a fascinating conversation and led to talk-back calls for listeners. If you'd like to hear ur interview, please look on-line at www.abc.net.au.darwin/programs/darwin_mornings

Tony Mokbel back in court

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:52:00 GMT

A former Victoria Police officer who was involved in the investigation of Melbourne's gangland war, admitted that "1 in every 4 to 5 police briefs" could be improperly sworn.

Gavin Ryan who's currently the Commanding Officer of the Australian Federal Police contigent in Afghanistan, was giving evidence this morning during former drug lord's Tony Mokbell's application to reverse his guilty plea on trafficking charges.

Mokbel's application rests entirely on evidence that some Victoria Police officers have been simply signing affidavits, instead of formally swearing them on oath. The affidavits are then used to gain search warrants, surveillance approval and other investigative tools.

Mr Ryan who was a Detective Inspector of Victoria Police's Purana taskforce from 2005-2007, conceded that when officers were absent due to "operational reasons", he would sign affidavits himself and believed it was "correct procedure at the time, although it's clear now it isn't". He emphasized "no deception was intended" and "it was just getting the job done".

While a rather overweight and balding Tony Mobkbel whispered conspiratorially to his barrister, Mark Gumbleton during a break, Acting Superintendent Andrew Gustke from Warnambool took the stand.

The senior officer agreed that due to the "dynamic nature" of the Crime Department detectives job and the "volume of the search warrants" they deal with that their affidavits weren't always sworn properly. He described it as a "cultural organisational failure" and conceded "maybe it was laziness, but sometimes we just didn't do it right".

Acting Superintendent Gustke said about the correct swearing in procedures of affidavits "wasn't enforced by my superiors and I didn't enforce it with people under me". " He claimed "it wasn't sinister" and had become "second or third place as part of the process." He believed these "bad habits" were due to the change of process from verbal swearing in front of Justices of the Peace to the current practise of signing affidavits on paper that's still in use.

Mokbel pleaded guilty in April 2011 to trafficking a large amount of methyalamphetamine. He was sentenced in absentia on other drug charges in 2006 after skipping bail and fleeing to Greece.

The hearing in the Victorian Supreme Court will continue on Thursday.

The restlessness of travel

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 02:14:00 GMT

Hola,

I've been back in Australia now for several weeks and trying to 'get my head' back into our culture again. After being in Peru for a month, life back here in Melbourne seems bland and too easy. I love the challenge that only travel can provide and the exploring you have to do. I love the fact that I've been immersed in a culture that I don't know about and I have to learn quickly!

I've left my heart in Peru and it's difficult to be here at the moment. My home doesn't feel like home any more; I'm restless. There is a different state you enter after you've been travelling, it's like you have expanded your world - certainly how you view the world - and then you're back in your little routine again and nothing has changed. You also realise there are so many places in the huge, exotic, fascinating world that you can live!

My third book has dragged my head back into Melbourne life again. I've returned to find my front cover design, the marked-up proofs and the legal report about Partners and Crime (Allen and Unwin). My new book will be published 1 March, 2012. Now, that IS exciting!

Watch this space for any further developments on Partners and Crime.

The mysterious death of Peruvian university student, Ciro Castillo

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 21:15:00 GMT

This story has held the attention of all Peruvians during the last seven months.... It has the mainstream and social media outlets working overtime to keep up with the speculation, rumours and the unfolding of more information about this case.

26 year old university students Ciro Castillo and 24 year old Rosario Ponce went trekking in the Colca Canyon outside of Arequipa, Peru in April this year. No one knows what happened, but the young couple went missing. Ten days later, Rosario was found dehydrated and exhausted. She gave the police conflicting information about where her boyfriend might be found.

Months passed and the case remained in the public´s attention, mainly because Ciro´s father never gave up the search for his son. In media interviews, he claimed that his son wasn`t missing, but had been murdered.

Six months later after Ciro was reported missing, his body was found. It took 60 rescuers 30 hours to retrieve his body.Ciro was found without shoes or a jacket, but he was still wearing a hat. Apparently his right arm was fractured.

There´s enormous speculation, rumours and the media are all pointing at Ciro´s girlfriend, Rosario is somehow involved in her boyfriend´s death. Currently, Rosario is helping the police with their enquiries and has been talking publicly about writing a book.

The police will conduct a reconstruction of the crime scene in the mountains next week. But more will be revealed about Ciro´s cause of death when the autopsy results are published on November 14.

The interest and unanswered questions swirling about this case will continue as more details about Ciro´s death become known.

The lost city of the Incas and the Day of the Deceased

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:20:00 GMT

I`ve visited the lost city of the Incas, Macchu Picchu for the second time in six months - and it never ceases to amaze me. We said goodbye to one of our guides Valentin, in Aguas Calientes, so Angelo gave us our guided tour around this impressive place.

Machu Picchu is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is 80 kilometres (50 mi) northwest of Cusco and through which the Urubamba River flows. Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472). Often referred to as the "Lost City of the Incas", it is perhaps the most familiar icon of the Inca World.

The Incas started building the "estate" around AD 1400, but abandoned it as an official site for the Inca rulers a century later at the time of the Spanish Conquest. Although known locally, it was unknown to the outside world before being brought to international attention in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham. Since then, Machu Picchu has become an important tourist attraction. Most of the outlying buildings have been reconstructed in order to give tourists a better idea of what the structures originally looked like. By 1976, thirty percent of Machu Picchu had been restored. The restoration work continues to this day.

While all the others climbed Huayna Picchu, I´d already done this last time and grabbed the opportunity to explore the Temple of the Condor, the Sun Gate and the steep terraces and cobblestone paths that wind their way around Machu Picchu. At about 1.30pm, I caught up with some of my fellow trekkers and was waited for the bus taking us back to Aguas Calientes and our hostel for a late lunch. We finally took the train back to Ollantaytambo with a bus connection arriving in Cusco city at 9.30pm.

In Cusco, the last two days have celebrated the Day of the Deceased, or El Dia de los Difuntos. It´s a religious day where Peruvians commemorate their dead familiy members and friends. They visit the cemetery and pay respect by leaving flowers, large ornamental crosses, food and drinks and tantawawas (bread babies). I wandered up to one of the nearby squares in San Franciso Celle, and watched a band with black suited musicians. They resembled the cast of the Blues Brothers and sounded fantastic! Some people danced in the square.

Suddenly, the chief of Cusco arrived accompanied by a priest and a live band. They blessed the large tantawawas or bread baby, which has a body made of sweet bread and carmel and a paper mache doll head. They blessed the huge bread doll and then started cutting it up for the crowd to eat. As the Cusco chief walked through the crowd, he shook my hand and gave me a golden placa echenic, or badge. He`s a typical public figure - great on the PR! This is a special time in Peru, when you remember you dead loved ones and what made them special.

Hikking in the Salkantay mountain range

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:04:00 GMT

Buenos dias!

Sixteen intrepid souls with Ángel and Valentin leading us as our guides, started out at 6am from Cusco. Fourteen Americanos, 1 Kiwi and 1 Aussie began our five day trek which took us along Mount Salkantay, the second largest mountain in the Cusco region. It's my second SAS trek - a company that I can highly recommend. They are professional, experts, always well-organised and the food is amazing! A mixture of traditional dishes, Milo! and energy food that will sustain you. In fact, I'd requested Valentin again to be on this trek as I'd trekked with him duing the Lares trek.

The first night we camped within clear sight of the snow-capped peak of Salkantay mountain, it was muy cold about - 5 degrees! On the way up to our first camp-site, it hailed but we kept trudging up along our steep path in our rain ponchos and jackets. We slept at an altitude of 4,200 metres.

The second day was tougher, we reached the highest point of our trek in a remarkable 40 minutes, Apacheta Pass is at 4,600 metres. We could also see the snow-capped mountains Humantay anbd Huayanay, white river, small lakes and moraines. Then we started walking down hills, strewn with huge boulders. We kept descending; it was very hard work. I'd far rather climb hills than go down hills, you must use your trekking poles to lessen the stress on your body and knees. The countryside began changing to lush jungle, we saw lizards, coca and banana crops. Our second camp site was much warmer and lower altitude, Collpapampa at 2,800 metres. We are surrounded by chickens, pigs, horses and dogs.

Day 3 and we are feeling it today, the result of hard, strenuous exercise and long days. It's a much easier day, we walk 3 hours into a high jungle zone called Ceja de Selva. We saw beautiful rich foliage, trees covered with vines, flowers, birds, banana crops and different fruits. Even coffee beans, which are yellow and red in colour before they are roasted brown. We reach our campsite La Playa very early, so early in fact that a soccer game is held between the Americanas Vs the Peruvians, including the chef!

Our second last day and we begin early to the village of Lucmambamba and see the remains of an Inca trail. We foolow this trail for three and a half hours and see an incredible view of the Santa Teresa Valley. We reach the top, Llaqtapata 2,700 metres and see a very different perspective of the mountain of Machu Picchu. We trek down to a hydroelectric plant where we have the last supper with our staff. We take the train to Aguas Calientes at 2,000 metres and finally reach Hostel Viajeros. Ahhhh, a hot shower and a BED! Tomorrow is our last day and we visit Machu Picchu, the home of the Inca ruling classes.

The bus trip from hell and the "gringo" city, Cusco

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 17:32:00 GMT

Hola! My friend Oscar and I took the "8" hour bus trip from Arequipa to the gringo city, Cusco. Of course, in typical South-America fashion, the 8 hour bus trip was actually 10 hours....and it was the trip from hell as I'd managed to pick-up a hideous stomach upset. I vomited and spent a long time in the banos, (toilet) for most of the trip! At one stage, I vomited all over Oscar's bag, which he took very much in his stride......

Suddenly, we heard a loud bang! I imagined we'd hit something - maybe a llama? No, one of the bus's tyres had blown and the side of the bus was peeled back like an orange skin. All of the passengers piled off the bus and watched as three guys, took off their shirts and climbed under the bus with a steel pole. I still don't know how they managed to elevate the bus, but they pushed two metal poles together and used that as a lever to get the split tyre off and a new one on. While this was happening, a woman in traditional gear appeared from nowhere carrying a large piece of meat wrapped in a blanket. She sold pieces of lamb, hacking pieces off with a huge knife!

We finally reached Cusco, which is now considered Peru's tourism capital. This fabulous picturesque city has an elevation of 3,500 metres and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. I am staying at Hotel Cahuide and my friend and I went for drinks at the nearby Crown, one of the many bars and clubs that surround the Plaza de Armas. In the Inca times, the square was mainly used for ceremonial purposes - now it's a major procession site and people watching location. I've taken a strong liking to the famous 'Pisco Sour" which is brandy made from grapes and includes egg-white and cinnamon. My frine drinks Cusquena, the Cuso beer which is not bad, and that's an assessment from a non-beer drinker.

Cusco is a great small city, wooden balconies, women in layered shirts wearing stove-pipped hats over long, black plaits, chat in Quechua on the Cathedral steps, fragments of the past hovering in the present. An earthquake of 1650 destroyed most of Cusco's Spanish structures - but the Inca foundations remained and under the patronage of the Bishop - the city was rebuilt.Most of the city you can explore on foot, except for the killer steep stairs!

Two more days in Cusco and I'm off on the Salkantay trek - five days at an altitude of 4,600 metres... Ciao!

Arequipa - Ciudad Blanca (White City)

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 22:15:00 GMT

Arequipa - what a magical city! I just spent four days in this wonderful, Spanish-influenced city with my Peruvian friend, Oscar. It's an irresistibly, sexy city and the second largest metropolis in Peru.

It's the home of 1 million people set against a spectacular backdrop of snowcapped peaks and surrounded by some of the wildest terrain in the country. This is a land of active, snowy volcanoes, high-altitude deserts, thermal hot springs, salt lakes and last, but not least, the world's deepest canyons.

This city is the place of many secrets, many a cacti and is always sunny with blue skies. We went to the once mysterious Monasterio de Santa Catalina, which was built in the 16th century and became a secret city within a city. Behind it's walls lived up to 450 nuns and their servants that no-one knew about. It was opened to the public in the 1970's and now you can take a tour through its maze of alleyways and gardens.

We also went to see the intriguing Juanita, the Inca mummy. She's actual living proof that the Incas ritually sacrificed their young to appease the gods, who they believed were responsible for the frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. She weighs just 25 kilograms and is kept in a glass case at a temperature of below 20 degrees. She is shrouded in icicles and partial-darkness which only adds to her mystique. Her eyes are sunken holes, her teeth are still intact and protrude and she still has long black hair. Many of the textiles and gold which adorned her were well-preserved and her home now is at Museo Santuarios Andinos.

Next, it's a long, long bus trip through the Cordilleras mountains and up to Cusco.

Santiago, Chile

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 16:34:00 GMT

Hola or buenas tardes (good afternoon)

I've just arrived in sunny Santiago, Chile and gladly checked into my hotel after what seemed like an interminably, long flight. Melbourne to Sydney, stopover in Auckland, New Zealand and then a 14 hour haul to Santiago. Phew! After this length of time, after exhausting all conversation-possibilities around you, watching too many moves on too small screens, reading, listening to my ipod and walking up and down the aisle - I began to understand what a prisoner must feel like. Or at least a caged, battery-hen.

It's worth it though, now I'm here and bring on my holiday!! Just had an request from ABC Overnights program for me to do their 'Round their World' spot on Friday 4 November.....watch this space to see if that turns out. I'll be in Cusco, Peru by then....

I{m off to try out the hotel swimming pool.....Adios!

Viva South America!

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 03:14:00 GMT

Hola,

I'm heading back to South America this weekend for another incredible month. My itinerary includes, visiting Peru, trekking the Andean mountains to Machu Pichu and basing myself in Cusco for a while before seeing the sights in Santiago, Chile. This is a land of active, snowy volcanoes, high-altitude deserts, thermal hot springs, salt lakes and, last but not least, the world's deepest canyons.,

Please continue to log onto my website and read my Blogs as I'm traveling .... Prepare yourself for stories about Juanita the Inca mummy, the mysterious Monasterio de Santa Catalina which was built in the 16 century and became a secret city within a city. Behind it's walls lived up to 450 nuns and their servants that no-one knew about. It was opened to the public in the 1970's and now you can tour through its maze of alleyways and gardens.

I'm also doing another mountain trek for five days and four nights in the mountainous terrain leading up to the city of lost Incas, Machu Picchu.

Mucho gracias and stay tuned for what promises to be an incredible journey!

SheKilda in Carlton

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 02:07:00 GMT

I attended the weekend's SheKilda, Australian Women Crime Writers' Convention during the weekend. It was part of the Sisters in Crime 20th anniversary celebrations, three days of debate and criminally good times!

More than 60 Australian women crime fiction writers, true-crime writers, screen producers, publishers, police, forensic specialists and scholars gathered at Rydges Hotel, Swanston Street Carlton, including three international authors; Margie Orford (South Africa), Shamini Flint (Singapore) and Vanda Symon (New Zealand).

Friday night makred the gala opening followed by a welcome to country, a speech by Mary Delahunty who's National Director, Writing Australia and a keynote address by Margie Orford which was powerful and moving.

Sunday I rubbed elbows with other true-crime authors, Colleen Egan, Liz Porter and Robin Bowles in the true crime author "scrum". This panel was followed by In the Face of Evil: encounters with the guilty with Ruth Wykes and Robin Bowles.....when too much crime and talking can never be enough!

A great opportunity to shoot the breeze with your fellow authors, fans and the occasional fruit-loop!