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60 Minutes: Apr 21

The hidden impact of loneliness; religious sect The Truth; and a profile on cricketer Alyssa Healy.

Tom Steinfort resumes his 60 Minutes reporting since joining Today with a story on the hidden impact of loneliness. Plus a report on religious sect The Truth and a profile on cricketer Alyssa Healy.

All By Myself
Back in the 1960s when Elvis Presley first swooned Are You Lonesome Tonight, he wouldn’t have had any idea that his heartbreaking lament would take on its greatest significance six decades later. But in Australia, and around the world, loneliness has become a massive health epidemic. In fact, researchers say being lonely is just as detrimental to our wellbeing as smoking and excessive drinking. And that means loneliness can be deadly. Just as worrying, it doesn’t discriminate. Loneliness can strike anyone, young, old, male, female, rich or poor.
Reporter: Tom Steinfort

The Truth Hurts
For the past 12 months, 60 Minutes has been investigating a highly mysterious church called The Truth. It operates in regional areas of Australia and enforces bizarrely strict rules for its 10,000 members. It bans television, music and dancing. No parishioners can wear jewellery; females must always be dressed in long skirts and are forbidden from cutting their hair. But that’s by no means the worst of it. On Sunday, 60 Minutes will reveal shocking and shameful secrets the church doesn’t want anyone to know about. They include allegations from former worshippers of being subjected to unspeakable sexual attacks by fellow members of the church, which when brought to the attention of the organisation’s hierarchy were largely ignored. As Allison Langdon discovers, the truth about The Truth is highly disturbing and demands a formal inquiry by police and welfare authorities.

Reporter: Allison Langdon
Producer: Laura Sparkes

Mrs Cricket
It might be difficult to believe, but there has been an upside to the misery that has afflicted the Australian men’s cricket team for much of the past 12 months. Fans disappointed by the blokes have turned their attention to the women’s game. And what they’ve found is a champion team of world beaters. Leading the charge is Alyssa Healy, Australia’s female cricketer of the year. If her last name sounds familiar, it is – Alyssa is the niece of legendary wicketkeeper Ian Healy. She also happens to be married to Mitchell Starc, Australia’s very fast fast bowler. But as Charles Wooley reports, that doesn’t mean Alyssa hides in anyone’s shadow.
Reporter: Charles Wooley
Producer: Thea Dikeos

7pm Sunday on Nine.

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