Uncovering reckless nuclear testing in South Australia | Accounts of a Nuclear Whistleblower

How one man’s activism helped uncover the reckless nuclear tests that contaminated lands and bodies in South Australia.
Director: Naveed Farro (www.naveedfarro.com/)
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In the 1950s and ’60s, the British government conducted nuclear tests in Maralinga, a remote region of South Australia, with little understanding or forethought of the public health problems the fallout might cause. The harmful, sometimes deadly impact of these tests not only affected military conscripts, roped in without any real warning of the potential dangers, but private Australian citizens as well - and especially Indigenous peoples. Accounts of a Nuclear Whistleblower details this dark, somewhat forgotten chapter in Australia’s history via a firsthand account from Avon Hudson who, as a member of the Royal Australian Air Force, was stationed in dangerous proximity to these detonations, and later worked to expose their devastation and enduring threat. Hudson’s activism would ultimately help to precipitate the establishment in 1984 of the Royal Commission into British Nuclear Tests in Australia.

[@Oxillious]

This documentary deserves more views. This man was very brave and I hope he knows how much respect people have for him blowing the whistle against injustice.

[@LJAY95]

Yes my full heartfelt respect goes out for this man ❤😢💯

[@nicko4756]

Aboriginal ppl still suffering today , turned there country into a wasteland , with a national highway thru the middle of it

[@Crunt2167]

Most are unaware its been hidden . 😎👍

[@MrButtonpresser]

Good work. Dad was there for most of the Maralinga tests. He was stationed in the cipher office but did witness one of the blasts first hand. He always says health and safety was poor. It's 2024 now and he's still with us, thank goodness. He has just received his Atomic Veteran medal from King Charlie.

[@joyleenpoortier7496]

I was born 1955 and raised in Adelaide. My Grandmother Thyroid disease. My mother died of bone cancer in 1974. My eldest sister Thyroid disease and cancer. I’m now 69 and I have been fighting Thyroid disease and nodules for 42 years I was diagnosed in 1981. I grew up knowing about Maralinga and the cloud that came over most of South Australia. The British just walked away.

[@petergracemeguide1280]

The pilot episode of the "Thunderbird s " makes reference to this situation. My family members living in the Adelaide Hills are presumed to be affected. My father died age 32 in 1978 nonhodgekins lymphoma, my grandmother never left echunga and had higher exposure levels than service men stationed there also died 1977 in early 50s. Many other locals had many cancers in the 1970/80s and most towns would have a list . As a kid it was like who is next in our region and valley. But in saying that my great uncle and my wifes grandfather were both there and lived a good innings. Still doesnt make it right .

[@DevoteeOfAergia]

An incredibly courageous person. The world needs a lot more of them but sadly most of us are too afraid or too apathetic to speak out the right from wrong.

[@eightshotringcaps]

My grandad was there, told me a story of being told to turn around and face the other way when it went off. He said he could see the bones through his arms and legs for a good 5 seconds…. Crazy shit! Lived till 91, unfortunate he’s not around to get the medal.

[@TheIsdon]

A very admirable man Avon, and nice old bloke too.

[@MichaelRogersJesusrules]

Good onya mate , wish you all the best,i dont live far from you,anyway sadest thing plus did south au take the thing ffor dumping used radioactive rubbish to be buried.itt just went quiet about that from few years ago...and im speachless..the mines up the road just started dynamiting it shakes our house,quite disturbing 3 monthlyy hourly for a day....God bless you!

[@eric_grossman]

Fantastic video

[@peterurbanski9718]

My father was there with the Buffalo series of tests, he is also featured in snippets you have with a maroon vest pulling a rope with two other men. He was one of the men that set the military vehicles in place, then they blew it up then within a short time went out to see if they could start the vehicles. He said the ground around the detonation site was for 2 kms thick glass as it turned sand to glass. Then he told me of the 4 x aboriginal people who were plied with alcohol, allowed to be in a concreted bunker below ground level. Their bodies were found afterwards. We can tell the story now as he was furious.

[@sandrainthesky1011]

My dad, an aircraft mechanic in the RAF, was in Adelaide. They would wash off the aircraft tyres from the transport planes returning from Maralinga and test their coveralls for radiation. Sometimes they would wash them, other times destroy them. I discovered this upon reading my dad's memoires recently, neither my partner nor I had ever heard of these tests before! My dad died a couple of years back but not cancer related. I wish we could have had a conversation about this, he had never mentioned it that I could ever remember.

[@usebiodiesel]

It is worth it Mr Hudson It shows platent disregard for public health.

[@patgrl]

Amazing content ❤❤❤❤❤😍

[@CHEMICALLEMON98]

My grandfather was there 😢

[@MySteamChannel]

My dad worked there during the blasts. He lived into his 80s...I have cancer.

[@wildweasel8564]

Interesting less than 10,000 views and fewer still comments in little over a year. Maralinga Air Field was less than 15 miles from the test site., The two aircraft shown parked at the north end of the field, at 10:30, are British Vickers Valiant high-altitude jet bombers designed to carry nuclear weapons. Possibly one of the aircraft pictured is Valiant B.1 (WZ366) of No. 49 Squadron that drop an atomic bomb at Maralinga on 11 October 1956.

[@cor2250]

Sad story ☺️🙏🏻❤️Rip for all the people that died 🙏🏻 and the babies + Thanks for the video

[@iownskulllighter]

What is the song that plays from 4:08 to 5:20?

[@Sokol10]

In description of the video: MUSIC Martian Winds ARTIST Adam Skinner|Dan Skinner ALBUM ANW - 3153 Epic Synths Floating In Space

[@Thegoldmine1]

If britain cleaned up the site. what did they do with the plutonium ?

[@damianousley8833]

ANSTO, the nuclear body in Australian oversaw the cleanup. They experimented with vitrification of the contaminated soil, but in the end, the contaminated materials were buried in deep pits. You can see the cleaning scars in satellite images.

[@nicko4756]

Cleaned the site , your joking right

[@Gippertron]

6:05 the British knew of course

[@Stefan_Eccles]

All just a big piss up and strut stays on timber power poles!

[@ste.p]

Join us at LABRATS International.

[@pradipchowdhury264]

Australia hide

[@nicko4756]

Aboriginal ppl are suing British government over it at the moment, and from the aunty i was yarning with the other week , their winning