From my years of investigating odd events, I have gained one pearl of wisdom. That is this; coincidence usually is not. By this, I mean that many things which are conveniently labelled as coincidences often mask deliberate and covert operations. So my B-S- radar has been ringing alarm bells at the recent events relating to Australian radio personalities.

Let me run these three scenarios past you. Firstly, Melbourne radio personality, former national cricketer, and current coach of the Victorian state cricket team, David Hookes, died apparently as the result of a brawl outside a hotel. National media went into a frenzy of grief and outrage. For a week, most newspapers dedicated at least three full pages each day to testimonials and “the true story” of this tragic event. As universally reported, Hookes was at the hotel with several other cricketers celebrating that day’s game. As the group were leaving, a particular security guard followed Hookes to his car. The guard then apparently king-hit Hookes, who fell to the ground fatally injured. He died the next day when life support was turned off. The guard was arrested and charged with assault and released on bail. The media then published his full name, address, photo and even his car registration number.

Meanwhile, Hookes was portrayed as a sporting legend, happily married husband and father of two, beloved radio announcer and “all round good guy” who liked nothing better than to have a quiet beer with his mates. His funeral was a media circus, with the ceremony conducted at the main cricket oval in Hookes’ home city, Adelaide. The guest list was a who’s who of international cricket and media, including the likes of Russell Crowe. The media whipped up a frenzy of grief and anger which was greater even that that seen when Princess Diana died.

Hookes death was tragic and, as the trial of the guard is still to be heard, I must be careful. But why did the media go to extreme lengths to lie about the following facts? Hookes died of a heart attack after an apparently light scuffle. Hookes was at best a mediocre player. His record bears this out. The ‘happily married father’ was accompanied that night by his long-term girlfriend, for whom he had left his wife and step children the year before. The media explained his wife’s no-show at the funeral by saying that she was “hiding her grief in the grandstand’. What a load of hooey! And, why lie? Who cares who Hookes was screwing?

One brave media announcer, Melbourne’s Derryn Hinch, raised these points on his show. The ensuing furore of indignant rage and denial saw Hinch fighting to keep his job.

Let’s move forward one week. Leading Adelaide talk back host Leon Byner was accused of taking cash in exchange for favourable commentary on his morning radio show. On the basis of very flimsy evidence, Byner is being investigated and is suspended indefinitely. He is silenced and under legal obligation to make no comments, even to his closest friends. Even if he does return in the future, his stellar career has been greatly damaged. Lastly, let’s look at the John Trenorden incident. Trenorden was a veteran of news-radio in Adelaide. After quitting on-air shifts a few years back, he ran his own media consultancy business. One week after the Leon Byner suspension, a suspicious fire occurred at Trenorden’s luxury apartment. After the Fire Brigade had put out the fire, family members discovered a woman’s body in the apartment. Several hours later, Trenorden was located, injured in another suburb. He was charged with murder and held in custody. Two days later, he was found hanged in his cell. Police have been unusually circumspect in their reporting of this case. They have given out only the barest details, stating that there is a “bizarreness to the incident” (Acting Chief Inspector of Sturt CIB, Sid Thomas, The Advertiser, February 2, 2004)

I find it astounding that the fire brigade extinguished a fire in the apartment, yet failed to discover the dead woman. After all, the apartment was not badly burnt and the body was completely untouched by fire.

All of these sad events may be unrelated. David Hookes and John Trenorden are dead. Leon Byner is effectively silenced. What do they have in common?

1) All three were flamboyant, popular, and very outspoken.
2) All were highly connected, socially.
3) All had, at some stage, worked long-term at the same Adelaide radio station 5AA.
4) Each of these events was very sudden.
5) Information is being either distorted or withheld by the media in each case.

In the big scheme of things, this is not of global consequence. Or is it? How many other media personalities are currently being hounded? How about Conrad Black? Martha Stewart? And the entire BBC?

People are being picked off, some quietly. I’d be interested to know whether or not this is happening to the outspoken personalities in smaller cities in the USA. Surely you have not forgotten William Cooper.