Posted in True Crime Stories

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

"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.

WALKING THE BEAT

My apologies to my regular readers for the shortness of todays' blog but I am exhausted after a day of delivering flyers to the houses of Wilston and The Grange promoting the next few weeks of events.  

Many thanks to my staff members Dan Martin and Bridie Foster who went beyond the call of duty.

Lots of locals expressed interest in coming along to the event at Thomas & Daisy Boutique on Saturday 6 October but one fellow quite aggressively said he won't be attending the event because he knew exactly who killed Miss Shanks and didn't think anyone else could know what he knew. Once again, as is often the case, when asked had he ever taken the information he had to police, he replied it was something that was none of their business and given he has said nothing for 50 years he would rather take it to the grave.

Ah, the good old days, when everybody cared about each other. 

See you all tomorrow night

Jack

Please join us at the screening of BETTY SHANKS: The Wilston Murder tomorrow evening (27/9) at the State Library Queensland at 6pm for the official Premiere of BETY SHANKS: The Wilston Murder by Bec Newman and Maya Weidner and the launch of Ken Blanch's WHO KILLED BETTY SHANKS? Is The Wilston Monster Still Alive? 

Library Prepares for Screening

Preparations for Screening of BETTY SHANKS: The Wilston Murder this Thursday evening are proceeding well. Jack Sim met with Produced Maya Weidner to discuss the event yesterday and found the young film-maker eager to screen the documentary. 

Filmed as part of their assessment for Film and Media at QUT Creative, the 10 minute documentary will be entered into a state-wide competiton.

While looking forward to the competition, Miss Weidner believed they have created a unique film and that it will help to bring the story of the crime to a new audience.

Please join us at the screening of BETTY SHANKS: The Wilston Murder this Thursday (27/9) at the State Library Queensland at 6pm for the official launch of Ken Blanch's WHO KILLED BETTY SHANKS? Is the Wilston Monster Still Alive? 2012 REVISED EDITION - Also THE PREMIERE SCREENING OF Betty Shanks: The Wilston Murder by Bec Newman and Maya Weidner.

INSTORE SIGNINGS & EVENTS with Author Ken Blanch:

State Library Queensland 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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Betty was one of us. Her story must be told.