True Crime Conversations

Mackay is a city on the Coral Sea coast of Queensland, Australia, located about 970 kilometres north of Brisbane. 

It’s known as the sugar capital of Australia, producing more than a third of the country’s cane sugar. 

In South Mackay, sits a spacious pub called Harrup Park Country Club. In February 2013, this was one of the last places Shandee Blackburn was seen alive. 

The 23-year-old finishes her seven hour Friday night shift and begins to make her way home to her mother’s house in Boddington Street. Wearing dark pants and a dark shirt, Shandee taps out a text message as she walks, not even 15 minutes from her destination. It’s warm outside with a light breeze, as the town enters into its last weeks of summer. The streets are quiet. Empty. Shandee has no reason to be afraid. 

But that night, Shandee will not make it to her front door. A taxi driver would see a scuffle he does not understand, and call the police. She is brutally attacked. And CCTV features a man, just prior to her attack, crouching in some nearby bushes.

CREDITS

Guest: Hedley Thomas, host of Shandee's Story

Host: Jessie Stephens

Producer: Gia Moylan

Audio Producer: Ian Camilleri

CONTACT US

Tell us what you think of the show via email at truecrime@mamamia.com.au  

Join our closed Facebook community to discuss this episode. Just search True Crime Conversations on Facebook or follow this link https://bit.ly/tcc-group 

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Just by reading or listening to our content, you’re helping to fund girls in schools in some of the most disadvantaged countries in the world - through our partnership with Room to Read. We’re currently funding 300 girls in school every day and our aim is to get to 1,000. Find out more about Mamamia at mamamia.com.au 

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.