Compass

10:10pm – Sunday, April 24 on ABC1

Anzac Day is a time to commemorate the men and women who fought and died; the battles won and lost. But there’s another story rarely told, about the women who waited at home, and were left bereft and alone. Around 100, 000 Australian women are classified as ‘war widows’. Many lost their husbands in wartime; others in war-related circumstances afterwards.

This program follows the stories of four women whose husbands fought in different conflicts – World War Two, Korea, Vietnam, the first Gulf War and Afghanistan. Although from different eras, their stories of anguish and loss transcend time and place.

How they coped – then and now; how they were supported and where they turned to in their anguish and loss will all be explored in this poignant story to screen on the eve of Anzac Day.

Victoria Hopkins is Australia’s youngest war widow at just 24. Her husband Mathew was killed in Afghanistan in 2009. Her grief is raw and ever present; “There is no way that you can turn those feelings of grief off, there is no switch there.” Olywn Green is 87 and has been a widow for over 60 years. Her husband Charlie was killed in Korea in 1950. She coped by withdrawing into herself; “When Charlie died, I completely shut down. It was all I could do to cope with the next day.” Other widows like Lisa Cooper and Meg Green had husbands who were casualties of war in a different way. Their husbands returned home but were deeply traumatised by their war time service.

10:10pm – Sunday, April 24 on ABC1

Anzac Day is a time to commemorate the men and women who fought and died; the battles won and lost. But there’s another story rarely told, about the women who waited at home, and were left bereft and alone. Around 100, 000 Australian women are classified as ‘war widows’. Many lost their husbands in wartime; others in war-related circumstances afterwards.

This program follows the stories of four women whose husbands fought in different conflicts – World War Two, Korea, Vietnam, the first Gulf War and Afghanistan. Although from different eras, their stories of anguish and loss transcend time and place.

How they coped – then and now; how they were supported and where they turned to in their anguish and loss will all be explored in this poignant story to screen on the eve of Anzac Day.

Victoria Hopkins is Australia’s youngest war widow at just 24. Her husband Mathew was killed in Afghanistan in 2009. Her grief is raw and ever present; “There is no way that you can turn those feelings of grief off, there is no switch there.” Olywn Green is 87 and has been a widow for over 60 years. Her husband Charlie was killed in Korea in 1950. She coped by withdrawing into herself; “When Charlie died, I completely shut down. It was all I could do to cope with the next day.” Other widows like Lisa Cooper and Meg Green had husbands who were casualties of war in a different way. Their husbands returned home but were deeply traumatised by their war time service.

6:30pm – Friday, April 22 on ABC1

This Good Friday, Compass goes to Ernabella, a remote Aboriginal community south-west of Alice Springs, as it prepares for Easter in its newly renovated church…

Ernabella Mission lies in the far north-west corner of South Australia. It was established in 1937 by the Presbyterian Church and right from the start it was different from other missions of its day. There was no pressure on the Anangu to give up their own beliefs or way of life.

“We weren’t even allowed to put clothes on them,” recalls one former missionary. Instead they respected and learnt the local language and culture, and found parallels with Anangu stories and the Old and New Testament.

They also established a choir for which Ernabella became famous.

Today Ernabella is an Aboriginal-run community with a rich cultural heritage.

Three of the elders who helped build the church almost 60 years ago still live in the community; and two of them are ordained Uniting Church ministers.

In this Good Friday Special, Compass tells the story of a unique mission and the renovation of its historic church through the eyes of the Anangu and former missionaries.

10:00pm – Sunday, March 27 on ABC1

What makes a good life? Why are we here? Is there a God and what is God anyway? As a theologian, host Scott Stephens, is fascinated by life’s big questions, so he’s asking prominent Australians to open up and reflect on their lives to find out what they think is the meaning of life.

This Compass series is hosted by Scott Stephens, a theologian who each week explores the deeper issues of life with a high profile Australian.

Featured in this series are Matt Preston, Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton, Julian Morrow, Clare Bowditch, Philip Nitschke and Rolf de Heer.

Scott asks them about their lives and beliefs, as well as the experiences, emotions and insights that have shaped and changed them.

Tonight, Scott talks to Rolf de Heer, the writer and director of Ten Canoes, Bad Boy Bubby and ten other Australian feature films. With over 20 major awards to his name, Rolf is one of our most prolific and respected film directors. Rolf discusses racism, incest, torment, murder, loyalty and love…

because these are all themes his films have explored.

10:00pm – Sunday, March 20 on ABC1

What makes a good life? Why are we here? Is there a God and what is God anyway? As a theologian, host Scott Stephens, is fascinated by life’s big questions, so he’s asking prominent Australians to open up and reflect on their lives to find out what they think is the meaning of life.

This Compass series is hosted by Scott Stephens, a theologian who each week explores the deeper issues of life with a high profile Australian.

Featured in this series are Matt Preston, Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton, Julian Morrow, Clare Bowditch, Philip Nitschke and Rolf de Heer.

Scott asks them about their lives and beliefs, as well as the experiences, emotions and insights that have shaped and changed them.

Tonight, Scott asks singer/songwriter Clare Bowditch Life’s Big Questions.

Clare has won an Aria Award for Best Female Artist and is widely regarded as the darling of the independent music scene. But along with her triumphs there have been tragedies: in her childhood the death of a sister, and more recently her father with Parkinson’s. Through it all Clare has managed to turn out three children, four solo albums, and has toured with leading international performers. Clare talks to Scott about her religious upbringing, her beliefs and how these have inspired her creativity and life.

10:00pm – Sunday, March 13 on ABC1

What makes a good life? Why are we here? Is there a God and what is God anyway? As a theologian, host Scott Stephens, is fascinated by life’s big questions, so he’s asking prominent Australians to open up and reflect on their lives to find out what they think is the meaning of life.

This six-part Compass series is hosted by Scott Stephens, a theologian who each week explores the deeper issues of life with a high profile Australian.

Featured in this series are Matt Preston, Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton, Julian Morrow, Clare Bowditch, Philip Nitschke and Rolf de Heer.

Scott asks them about their lives and beliefs, as well as the experiences, emotions and insights that have shaped and changed them.

Scott’s guest tonight is Dr Philip Nitschke, one of our most controversial Australians. Philip’s stand on voluntary euthanasia has inextricably connected him to death, but he has a lot to say about the meaning of life too. Scott talks to Philip about life, death, tragedy, sorrow, love, hate, forgiveness, God and betrayal. His answers are disarmingly frank and surprising.

10:00pm – Sunday, March 6 on ABC1

What makes a good life? Why are we here? Is there a God and what is God anyway? As a theologian, host Scott Stephens, is fascinated by life’s big questions, so he’s asking prominent Australians to open up and reflect on their lives to find out what they think is the meaning of life.

So begins a new six-part Compass series hosted by Scott Stephens, a theologian who each week explores the deeper issues of life with a high profile Australian.

Featured in this series are Matt Preston, Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton, Julian Morrow, Clare Bowditch, Philip Nitschke and Rolf de Heer.

Scott asks them about their lives and beliefs, as well as the experiences, emotions and insights that have shaped and changed them.

Scott’s guest tonight is Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton who was convicted of murdering her nine-week-old baby daughter Azaria in 1980. From the time she raised the alarm that a dingo had taken her baby, Lindy’s life was irrevocably changed. After three years in prison and a draining campaign to prove her innocence Lindy was completely exonerated. Throughout Lindy has remained a devout Seventh Day Adventist. Thirty years on she reflects on the role her faith has played in her life… and a lot more.

10:00pm – Sunday, February 27 on ABC1

What makes a good life? Why are we here? Is there a God and what is God anyway? As a theologian, host Scott Stephens, is fascinated by life’s big questions, so he’s asking prominent Australians to open up and reflect on their lives to find out what they think is the meaning of life.

So begins a new six-part Compass series hosted by Scott Stephens, a theologian who each week explores the deeper issues of life with a high profile Australian.

Featured in this series are Matt Preston, Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton, Julian Morrow, Clare Bowditch, Philip Nitschke and Rolf de Heer.

Scott asks them about their lives and beliefs, as well as the experiences, emotions and insights that have shaped and changed them.

In this episode Scott invites comedian and television producer Julian Morrow to reflect on his beliefs, background and his work in television. Julian is the executive producer of The Chaser. Its unique brand of guerrilla comedy has made it one of television’s most popular and contentious programs. Scott talks to Julian about some of the show’s more controversial sketches, his Catholic upbringing and experiences that have changed his life.

10:00pm – Sunday, February 20 on ABC1

What makes a good life? Why are we here? Is there a God and what is God anyway? As a theologian, host Scott Stephens, is fascinated by life’s big questions, so he’s asking prominent Australians to open up and reflect on their lives to find out what they think is the meaning of life.

So begins a new six-part Compass series hosted by Scott Stephens, a theologian who each week explores the deeper issues of life with a high profile Australian.

Featured in this series are Matt Preston, Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton, Julian Morrow, Clare Bowditch, Philip Nitschke and Rolf de Heer.

Scott asks them about their lives and beliefs, as well as the experiences, emotions and insights that have shaped and changed them.

First up in the series is MasterChef’s Matt Preston. Not only has Matt been at the forefront of one of Australia’s biggest television juggernauts, this renowned food critic and writer is a father of three, has an honours degree in politics, was once a disc jockey and even did a stint as a punk musician. Scott asks Matt about his background and beliefs, the deeper meaning of food and those delectable but deadliest of sins: lust, envy, gluttony, greed and pride.

New Series

6:30pm – Thursday, December 23 on ABC1

Three unique choirs all with one aim: to bring Christmas to those who aren’t really looking for it.

Music plays a big part in creating the sound and spirit of Christmas.

In this story three very different choirs are preparing their Christmas repertoire for carolling around Sydney.

The Salvos, a common sight on street corners during Christmas, are using their songs as a way to share the message of God. While Michelle Leonard leads her combined adults and children’s choir toward a big community carol gathering. And the men from Harvest Gospel choir rehearse songs they sang in an African refugee camp before they came to Australia.

Compass follows their journeys in the days leading up to Christmas.