The sun rose over Phillip Island at 6:09 am on the morning of September 23rd, 1986, a perfect spring day. By all accounts, as Fergus Cameron lay on his sister Marnie’s sofa, he didn’t stir when she got up for work at 7 am OR when Ian—Marnie’s husband—got up to start his day.

The trio all had little sleep the night before, and Fergus hadn’t arrived at their house until 2 am that morning.

It wasn’t normal for him to end up on Marnie’s sofa in the middle of the night, but on that occasion, the argument he’d had with his wife Vivienne couldn’t have been much worse. He’d ended up in the hospital, and afterwards, he and Vivienne had separated once and for all. It was final, and it was the outcome Fergus had always wanted. He had talked about leaving Vivienne for a long time – he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. Until now.

As Ian was getting ready to leave for work, Fergus woke to the possibility of a fresh start on the Island, a new life with the woman he had been promising to leave Vivienne for – a life with Beth.

And then the phone rang.

Bonus Interview

[BONUS INTERVIEW]

Interview with Vikki Petraitis – author of the book “The Phillip Island Murder”

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Our episodes deal with serious and often distressing incidents. If you feel at anytime you need support, please contact your local crisis centre. Some suggestions for confidential support for men, women and children:

AUSTRALIA:

Lifeline Crisis Support: 13 11 14

Beyond Blue: Depression and anxiety support: 1300 22 46 36

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Mind: mental health support: 0300 123 3393

SANE: mental health support: 0300 304 7000

Samaritans support network: 116 123

National Stalking Helpline: 0808 802 0300

CANADA:

For a list of Canadian crisis centres: https://thelifelinecanada.ca/help/call

NEW ZEALAND:

Lifeline: 0800 543354

Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (Text 4202)

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If you are hearing impaired or know someone who is and would like to get a transcript of the episode, please email us at contact@casefilepodcast.com

CREDITS

NARRATION:

Episode narrated by the Anonymous Host

EPISODE:

Episode researched and written by Anna Priestland

MUSIC:

‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro www.dl-sounds.com

All other music and audio clean up performed by Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn 

OTHER:

Logo design by Paulina Szymanska

RESOURCES

BOOKS:

The Phillip Island Murder – by Vikki Petraitis (Published by Clandestine Press 1993)

The Phillip Island Murder: The True account of a brutal killing – by Vikki Petraitis and Paul Daley (New addition published in 2004; Published by Pennon Publishing)

ARTICLES:

Collection of original archived newspapers – The South Gippsland Sentinel Times 1987–1988; The Phillip Island Sun 1986

The Brutal Slaying of Beth Barnard of Phillip Island Remains a Mystery – The Herald Sun

Case Not Closed – Bass Coast Post

OTHER:

Phillip Island History

Phillip Island Indigenous History 

Motor racing on Phillip Island by Fergus Cameron

The two Phillip Island bridges by Marcia Tanswell

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