Posted in Ken Blanch

FREE EVENT
CALL 07 3407 8223 to reserve your spot

Saturday 15th July 2017
10am - 11am
Bulimba Library
 

Brisbane's infamous "man in black", Jack Sim, walks the shadowy streets of town in search of stories and tales of horrible history. Since childhood, those long years ago, he has been fascinated not by blocks, bikes or cars, but by the stories of the past, especially crime stories, ghost tales and jail birds.
Jack has dedicated his life to preserving the details of things and subjects that we all find both macabre and thrilling. He has published several crime titles, regularly hosts crime and ghost tours around Brisbane and appears on radio 4BC each Monday night for Crime @ Nine.
Join Jack Sim for a thrilling story or two. Bookings essential.

Brisbane True Crimes author Ken Blanch, will call on Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie to reopen the case of the 1938 mysterious disappearance of a Brisbane social identity when he launches his latest book nest Sunday November 5 at Boggo Road Gaol.

In Marjorie Norval: The Girl a railway Station Swallowed, Ken Blanch recalls the sensation and the massive police and fatal air force search that resulted when Miss Norval failed to return from a trip to Bundaberg to see a sick relative. He also produces evidence that her inquest was manipulated to avoid a political scandal.

Marjorie Norval was well known in Brisbane - the social secretary to the wife of Premiere William Forgen Smith was driven to Brisbane’s central railway station on the 11th of November 1938 and was never seen alive or dead again.
Miss Norval told her friends and work colleagues that she was going to Bundaberg, but had told her sisters that she was going to the North Coast with secret business for the Premiere.

The coroner, Mr J Leahy, concluded that she had died at the hands of an unidentified abortionist. The inquest was held was the first held in Queensland into a case where a body had not been found.

In this book Ken Blanch reconstructs Marjorie’s movements on the night she disappeared and shows she would have exited the railway station unobserved and walked the short distance to the rooms of Brisbane’s most active medical abortionist of the time in Edward street.

Blanch also accuses a former Police Commisioner of failing to properly investigate a sighting of Marjorie Norval the next day at the Doctor’s Caloundra holiday home and uncovers the men who conspired to perjure evidence given at the inquest to prevent a political scandal.

Blanch has published reviews of homicides that he covered as a Police rounds reporter during the 1950s with Jack Sim’s Classic Crime series, but is now self-publishing as Seagle Crime Stories. His new book Marjorie Norval: The Girl a railway Station Swallowed is the first in a series of a small books about unsolved Queensland crimes and is available from Blanch’s website www.seaglecrimestories.com and the Boggo Road Gaol Shop.

BOOK LAUNCH In Marjorie Norval: The Girl a railway Station Swallowed
When: Sunday November 9, 10.30am
Where: Boggo Road Gaol Shop at Boggo Road Gaol Precinct, Annerley Road, Dutton Park

Hear who Ken Blanch believes had a hand in the disappearance of Marjorie Norval Thursday 6.11.2014 on Australia’s longest running true crime show “True Crimes” – presented by Jack Sim on 4BC Nights with Walter Williams. Thursday evenings 9.35pm on Radio 4BC.
 

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.

LEARN ABOUT THE CRIME WHICH CHANGED A CITY.

Due to the great interest surrounding the recent release of the revised edition of WHO KILLED BETTY SHANKS? Is The Wilston Monster Still Alive? by Ken Blanch a special Brisbane Crime Tour has been organised.

The 3 hour Crime Tour will be held on Saturday 13/10 between 2.30 - 5.30pm - special guest will be author Ken Blanch. The tour guide will be Jack Sim.

A highlight of the tour will be a visit to the Tramways Museum to ride in an actual 1950s era Brisbane tram of the type in use on the Grange run.

Details on how to book for this special Crime Tour to be released in the next few days. Places will be limited to 50 persons and the cost will be $45pp - Adults, $40 pp - Adult Concession, $30 - Teenagers. The price includes admission to the Brisbane Tramway Museum. Copies of Ken's book will be available on the tour.

FUND TO BE CREATED IN VICTIMS NAME

As the month of September closes, the 60th anniversary of the Wilston Murder also ends.

Betty Shanks was a real person, a beautiful soul who was cut down in her prime, She was not just a name associated with a crime. Betty was studying, caring for her parents and working full time - unusual for time. In many ways Betty was a very typical woman of the 21st century.

Betty fought for her life on the night she was to die. She tried to defend herself from the furious attack.  It has always seemed sad to me that her fight to live, and better herself and those around her, has become lost in the six decades of media coverage of her death.

To honour Betty's memory, I would like to announce that a fund is to be created to educate young students and help them reach university.

I hope to be able to announce in greater detail the aims and objectives over the next few months. 

Jack Sim