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60 Minutes: Oct 24

60 Minutes this weekend covers a story on former TEN News presenter Charmaine Dragun, who died tragically in 2007.

60 Minutes this weekend covers a story on former TEN News presenter Charmaine Dragun, who died tragically in 2007.

Tara Brown files a story on “Charmaine’s Dark Secret.”

Charmaine Dragun had everything to live for – a glamorous job as a newsreader, an adoring partner and a large and loving network of friends and family. Her life seemed charmed. But Charmaine’s brilliant smile masked a dreadful secret. For almost all her adult life, Charmaine battled depression, until one day three years ago she decided she was done fighting. For those left behind trying to understand what went wrong, their worst fears have now been confirmed, Charmaine was let down by the very people she turned to for help, the medical profession.
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producer: Jo Townsend

The Dannii Factor
For years, she lived in the formidable shadow of her big sister. Dannii was “the other Minogue girl”. But, at last, those constant Kylie comparisons have been put to rest. Today Dannii has a resurgent television career and is finding fame on her own terms. Maybe that’s why she’s chosen now to release her autobiography. It’s certainly no fairytale, rather the determined slog of a suburban girl from Melbourne to make it big. And it hits the shelves just as Dannii embraces life’s next chapter – motherhood.
Reporter: Michael Usher
Producers: Stephen Taylor, Julia Timms

The Battle Within
Some stories are so extraordinary, so riddled with twists and turns, that it’s hard to believe they’re true. Such is the strange and tragic case of Robert Bungey. Bungey was one of the “brave few”- a dashing Australian fighter pilot who flew Spitfires in the skies over Britain, shooting down Nazis and risking his life day after day. He was a wartime hero and an inspirational leader, but what he did when he returned home branded him a madman. Now sixty years on, his son Richard has returned to the land his father so valiantly defended, searching for answers.
Reporter: Liam Bartlett
Producers: Nick Greenaway, Kirsty Thomson

It airs 7:30pm Sunday on Nine.

9 Responses

  1. Charmaine’s family and fiance should be commended for telling her story to raise awareness in the hope that others with Bipolar Disorder Type II are not misdiagnosed and treated for depression. Their story could have been ours except that our 15 year old daughter is finally being treated effectively and may live to achieve something special with her many talents. There were times we feared she would not. There is still a long way to go to ensure that mental illnesses are accurately diagnosed and treated and it won’t happen without public awareness and government funding.

  2. I lost my husband to suicide 5 years ago. Three wonderful children were left without a father. Thank you so much to Charmaines family and 60 minutes for putting this story to air. This subject is still such taboo in this country and it needs to be made more public so more people can get help. My husband had no history of mental illness. Thank You

  3. can we expect a last minute pull of the plug on this story, like last time tara tried to do a depressive suicide story? i thought it was against beyond blues wishes for shows like this to do such stories.

  4. It’s such an important and sensitive topic that on a wider scale affects a great many people. I only hope 60 Minutes don’t make a hash of things in pursuit of their usual pathetic tabloid agenda.

  5. @Rob Australian Story actually already did the Charmaine story. Friday’s Child was a very powerful and well done episode and it is actually the kind of story that 60 Minutes should be doing straight away.

  6. Wonder why they are doing this. It’s a sensitive topic about media people (their own industry) from a rival which in a way may lead you to think they’ll pick on the operator for something. Insight or Aust Story do a much better job. I hope Tara if she hasn’t already avoids the tear jerking and produces some journalism for a change, this issue is too big for the Random Acts of Kindness treatment

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