This weekend 60 Minutes checks up on Charlie and his fight with ANZ, Dawn French and an inspirational Mum.
Charlie’s Victory
It’s been a long, hard fight. Charlie Phillott is the 81-year-old farmer from outback Queensland who took on the might of the ANZ Bank… and won. The bank forced his family off Carisbrooke Station, their property of 50 years. But the ANZ didn’t bargain on Charlie’s dignified determination. He certainly won’t be bullied. And, this week, the ANZ made the most extraordinary back-down. ANZ Chief Executive Mike Smith flew 2,000 kilometres from the bank’s Melbourne headquarters to personally apologise to Charlie. And that’s not all that happened during this extraordinary encounter. It’s the most dramatic development yet in the story that 60 Minutes has been following for much of this year: the desperate plight of farmers across Australia forced off their farms by the ANZ. Charlie’s win is a breakthrough. But there are lots of questions for the ANZ boss about how this all happened, and what now for the many other distressed farmers just like Charlie.
Reporter: Michael Usher
Producer: Grace Tobin
Dawn French
Dawn French is the roly-poly, rambunctious queen of UK comedy. We know her as one half of French and Saunders – perhaps the most successful British female comic act in history. She was the Vicar of Dibley for 13 straight series. And she’s a successful author and novelist to boot. Now Dawn French is coming to Australia with her one-woman show that sold out across the UK. But for all her public brashness, Dawn is a remarkably private person. Fame, she says, is “toxic” and she avoids it at all costs. So when Liz Hayes had the opportunity to spend some quiet time with her in the beautiful corner of southern England she calls home, it was an offer too good to refuse.
Reporter: Liz Hayes
Producer: Gareth Harvey
Unbeatable
Julia Watson has an unbeatable spirit. And she needs it. The mother of four from Frankston in Victoria has incurable cancer, and has been given just months to live. She’s giving other cancer sufferers hope and inspiration, by writing with searing honesty about being dealt the cruel hand that is terminal cancer. We first found out about Julia in the wake of the Belle Gibson scandal – the cancer fraud, who lied about her illness in return for money and fame. When we brought you that story recently, it left Australians shaking their heads, outraged by Gibson’s refusal to admit the truth. Many viewers contacted us with real stories of struggles with cancer. All the stories were moving, but Julia’s stood out. Because as you’ll see, Julia is quite unlike anyone else.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producer: Garry McNab
9pm Sunday on Nine
