Posted in Jack Sim

Hello everyone - the stories are true! I'm back at my desk, hard at work planning another year of crime, hauntings & history. I'd like to say I have had a break, but I haven't...I've been in Gaol.

Quite a few of you have contacted me recently wondering whether there was any truth in the rumour that I had been sent to prison over the Christmas period.

Yes, I have been given jail time - and I couldn't be more thrilled!

In early December 2012 the State Government licenced me to operate historic Boggo Road Gaol.

I am proud to have been given this responsibility, and I thank every one of you for supporting my efforts to popularise Brisbane's and our state's history. 

Telling the story of Boggo Road Gaol, managing this important heritage site, and creating a commercially viable tourism business will be a challenge - I strongly believe that the tales of this place need to be told through human beings.

We have created a great family-friendly script called THE HISTORY OF BOGGO ROAD GAOL aimed at all ages. My Ghost Tours have resumed at the old Gaol after 8 years and are just are popular as ever.

For those that do not know, I started running tours at Boggo Road Gaol 15 years ago - both history tours and ghost tours (not that there is any difference).

For nearly eight years I tried to convince the then State Government to let me develop the tourism potential of Boggo Road. There was a general reluctance to enter into any arrangement. Frankly, under the previous Government, all I really had were knockbacks. It was for myself, the public, our staff and supporters an extremely frustrating period. Most people would have quit. In 2005 the Gaol was closed for tours. Initially it was supposed to be only for 18 months - 2 years. A letter from the State Government crushed all hope saying they could not promise we would ever be able to recommence at the Gaol.

The 18months - 2 year window became 7 years. The public were shut out of what was really their property.

Last year we met with the new Government and found a committment to get the Gaol open, and for it to be used.

If you haven't as yet taken one of our tours at the Gaol now is the time to show your support - please visit the website at www.boggoroadgaol.com

My staff and I have made very attempt to work with other stakeholders, but I am determined that the story of Boggo Road Gaol should not be told by prison officers alone. Prisoners have tales to be told as well. The people impacted and affected by Boggo Road Gaol extend outside the walls into the Queensland community and beyond. Every piece of the history of this Gaol is fascinating, and in time I hope to meet expectations and create something positive out of a place whose history was largely bad.

Keep reading!

Jack Sim

SPECIAL WILSTON MURDER CRIME TOUR TO BE RESCHEDULED

Thank you all who have written in wishing to join the special Wilston Murder that was scheduled for this Saturday. 

There is no doubt that this crime still attracts interest - We have had an unexpectedly large number of people indicate their interest  - this has necessitated a need to acquire a larger coach & unfortunately have to change the date for the tour.  

It is to be rescheduled for a few weeks time - there will a few vacancies - those on the standby list will be the first to know!

If you would like to attend, write to admin@jacksim.com.au - indicating how many are in your group.

"EVERYBODY KNOWS THE DOCTOR DID IT"

The front page of The Queensland Times on Monday, 22 September 1952 was dominated by the bold headline "NATION-WIDE SEARCH FOR SEX-KILLER"

The tragic death of Ipswich doctor Donald Carter appeared in a smaller article beside the account of Betty Shanks' murder. Within days Ipswich locals had connected the two events. Even an experienced detective came to believe there was a connection the two people. 

In WHO KILLED BETTY SHANKS? Is The Wilston Monster Still Alive? Ken Blanch reveals his thoughts about the tenuous link claimed to exist and silences the speculation once and for all.

Sixty years after the initial article in their newspaper The Queensland Times will tomorrow publish a comprehensive article including an interview with Dr Carter's sons who have spent their lives trying to have their father's name cleared.

Read The Queensland Times - Saturday 29/9 

Meet Ken Blanch at Angus & Robertson Ipswich Saturday 29/9 between 11am and 1.30pm. Come and share your thoughts and meet the author.

LAST PICTURE TAKEN OF BETTY SHANKS...

dressed formally for a cousin’s wedding weeks before her death.

This rare photograph, originally published in The Courier Mail, captures a happy, vivacious young woman, who loved life.

Raised by loving and proud parents, had she lived, Betty would have gone on to contribute a great deal more to society.

Her callous, cold-blooded murder sixty years ago tomorrow, was without reason or justification.

As Ken Blanch and I research and promote this case, we do so with the constant hope that Betty's murderer will eventually be brought  to justice, or may yet confess to his evil crime.

Though that a coward has managed to elude capture for six decades is disheartening, his act in no way diminishes what Betty brought into this world.

Tomorrow, 19 September, will mark the anniversary of her death. As such, I will not be posting a blog tomorrow. Ken and I will be on air on 4BC radio at 1.05pm to talk about this anniversary and his revised book.

We ask that everyone reading this blog please spare a thought tomorrow for Betty Shanks, her parents, brother, friends and family - all the victims of this tragedy. 

For more than 60 years this crime has been an open wound on our city.

Ken Blanch and I dedicate his book to all the women of the world who have suffered or died at the hands of brutal men.

Thank you for your ongoing support of my books and publications.

Jack

Unidentified Male Caller Upsets Victim Days Before Death

On Wednesday 17 September 1952, two days before her death, Betty Shanks received a telephone call at her workplace that affected her demeanor.

John Ducey, Betty’s supervisor at the Commonwealth Department where she was employed, was to say she “was not her usual self” after taking it:

I answered the phone and the caller asked for Betty Shanks. It was a male caller. As far as I could detect, he was speaking in a normal Australian accent. I had no particular interest. I told the caller she was out and that I could get her to call him back, but he said ‘No’ and then he rang off. Shortly afterwards the telephone rang again. I answered the phone and the caller asked for ‘Betty Shanks’. She was then in the building and I handed her the phone and she spoke to the caller. She made no comment to me at all after finishing that call. That was unusual, as in most cases she would make some mention of the nature of the call. It was usual to seek permission to use the phone and to make some record of the call. She was not her usual self after receiving that call. I have no idea who the caller might have been. 

The male caller's identity has never been ascertained. For more than 50 years police sought to find something in Betty's background which may have led to the attack on her.

In 2006 in book WHO KILLED BETTY SHANKS? Brisbane's Greatest Murder-Mystery Ken Blanch was able to show that the killer was not actually waiting for Betty Shanks...

Betty was one of us. Her story must be told.   

Discover Brisbane's criminal history. Buy WHO KILLED BETTY SHANKS? Is the Wilston Monster Still Alive? 2012 REVISED EDITION by Ken Blanch.

Ken Blanch is appearing at these bookstores over the next few weeks to sign his book:

Dymocks Carindale                            Thursday 20 September 2012     4pm - 9.00pm     

Angus & Robertson - Brookside      Saturday 22 September 2012     10am-12.30pm

Dymocks Chermside                         Saturday 22 September 2012      1.00pm - 4.00pm 

State Library Cafe                              Thursday 27 September 2012      6pm - 7.30pm

Angus & Robertson - Ipswich           Saturday 29 September 2012      11.00am - 2.30pm  

Thomas & Daisy - Wilston                  Saturday 6 October 2012             11.00am - 1.00pm

A Lot of Books - Ipswich                    Thursday 4 October 2012            11.00am - 1.00pm      

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