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The Teacher's Pet Podcast: full transcripts and summaries of all episodes

· 22 min read

Podcast: The Teacher's Pet​

The Teacher's Pet

Description: Lyn and Chris Dawson appear to have the perfect marriage. He's a star footballer and popular high school teacher. She's a devoted wife and mother. They share a beautiful home above Sydney's northern beaches. But when Lyn goes missing, dark secrets are buried. This is no fairytale, but a sordid story of strangely close twin brothers, teenage student lovers, and probable murder. The Australian's Hedley Thomas digs deep into a cold case which has been unsolved for 36 years, uncovering startling new evidence.

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All Episodes​

From The Front: Chris Dawson is staying in jail with full transcript and summary​

Transcribed: view now.

Update: 2024-06-13
Duration: 00:17:44
Shownotes: This is an episode of The Australian's daily news podcast, The Front. Chris Dawson has suffered another humiliation, losing an appeal against his conviction for

the 1982 murder of his wife Lynette in 1982. Find out more about The Front podcast here. You can read about this story and more on The Australian's website or on The Australian’s app. This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Lia Tsamoglou. Original music is composed by Jasper Leak.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to episode 1 of BRONWYN with full transcript and summary​

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Update: 2024-05-31
Duration: 01:12:25
Summary: In the first episode of 'Bronwyn', creator Hedley Thomas investigates the mysterious disappearance of Bronwyn Winfield, a mother who vanished in 1993 amid marital discord

and emotional turmoil. Through interviews and analysis, the podcast explores complex themes of love, betrayal, and systemic failures in law enforcement surrounding her case. The narrative draws parallels with the disappearance of Lyn Dawson, revealing deep-seated issues of gender bias in police investigations. Despite previous inquiries, Bronwyn's case remains unresolved, urging listeners to consider the urgent need for accountability and thorough investigations into cases of missing women.

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Shownotes: The Teacher's Pet creator Hedley Thomas returns with a new podcast investigation for The Australian. Subscribers to The Australian and registered users hear episodes of

‘Bronwyn’ first. Plus, you can read more about this case and see exclusive stories, maps, timelines, graphics, video and more at bronwynpodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From The Front: Hedley Thomas’ new cold case podcast, 'Bronwyn' with full transcript and summary​

Transcribed: view now.

Update: 2024-05-24
Duration: 00:20:31
Summary: In this episode of 'The Front', Hedley Thomas investigates the unresolved case of Bronwyn Winfield, missing since 1993. He notes troubling parallels between Bronwyn’s case

and others, including systemic failures in law enforcement, particularly regarding missing women in troubled marriages. The delayed police report by her husband John, amidst questionable circumstances, raises critical questions. Despite the coroner’s recommendations for charges against John, the absence of evidence leaves Bronwyn's fate shrouded in mystery, igniting renewed public interest and the hope for breakthroughs in her cold case.

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Shownotes: Where is Bronwyn Winfield? The devoted mum has been missing since 1993 – and the man behind The Teacher’s Pet is on the case. Go

to theaustralian.com.au/bronwyn to listen. Plus, you can read more about this case and see exclusive stories, maps, timelines, graphics, video and more. This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Josh Burton. The multimedia editor is Lia Tsamoglou and original music is composed by Jasper Leak.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From The Front: The Teacher's Appeal with full transcript and summary​

Transcribed: view now.

Update: 2024-05-14
Duration: 00:18:59
Summary: In this episode of 'The Teacher's Pet' by The Australian, Christopher Dawson is appealing his 2022 murder conviction for the presumed murder of his wife,

Lynette Dawson. His defense argues that evidence does not conclusively prove she was dead on January 9, 1982, suggesting that Lynette may have left voluntarily. The appeal, taking place at the NSW Supreme Court, examines Dawson's motives, including his relationship with teenage babysitter JC and the circumstances surrounding Lynette's disappearance. The defense emphasizes the lack of evidence linking Dawson to the crime and the challenges posed by the investigation's delays.

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Shownotes: Christopher Michael Dawson has launched an appeal, arguing Justice Ian Harrison got it wrong — and claiming he’s not guilty of Lyn’s murder. The Front

is covering the NSW Supreme Court proceedings every day. Find out more about it here, or keep up to date on The Australian's website and app. This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Lia Tsamoglou. The multimedia editor is Lia Tsamoglou and original music is composed by Jasper Leak.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bonus episode: Hedley Thomas talks The Teacher's Pet with Raymond Bonner with full transcript and summary​

Transcribed: view now.

Update: 2023-11-27
Duration: 01:01:53
Summary: In this bonus episode of 'The Teacher's Pet,' Hedley Thomas converses with Raymond Bonner about Bonner's new book inspired by the case of Lyn and

Chris Dawson. The discussion reflects on the impact of familial connections in investigative journalism, Thomas's unnerving access to police evidence detailing Lyn's disappearance, and the moral dilemmas faced during the investigation. Thomas also shares personal traumas and emotional struggles related to the case, while emphasizing the systemic failures within the justice system that contributed to unresolved questions surrounding Lyn's case. The dialogue unpacks the significant role of investigative journalism in seeking justice amid complex narratives of love, betrayal, and truth.

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Shownotes: Hedley Thomas sits down with Pulitzer Prize-winner and former NYT foreign correspondent Raymond Bonner to discuss his new book, The Teacher's Pet, at Bookoccino book

shop on Sydney's Northern Beaches. The book is published by Pan Macmillan and is available at all good bookstores, and wherever you get audiobooks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From I Catch Killers with Gary Jubelin: Remembering Lynette with Hedley Thomas (Part 2) with full transcript and summary​

Transcribed: view now.

Update: 2023-11-18
Duration: 00:50:37
Summary: In this episode of 'The Teacher's Pet,' hosted by Hedley Thomas, the complexities of the Lynette Dawson case are explored, focusing on the four-decade journey

to justice. The discussion highlights the investigative failures, including the lack of attention to critical details by the police and the relentless efforts of Detective Damien Loon. The role of investigative journalism in shedding light on cold cases is emphasized, along with the dynamic relationship between media and law enforcement. Ultimately, the episode reflects on how public interest, fueled by the podcast, revived the case and led to the conviction of Chris Dawson for Lynette's murder.

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Shownotes: Lynette Dawson, now remembered as Lynette Simms, went missing from her Bayview home in 1982. But it would take another 40 years for her husband

Chris Dawson to be convicted of her murder. In this special episode of the I Catch Killers podcast, Hedley Thomas shares his personal connection to Lyn’s story with host Gary Jubelin.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From I Catch Killers with Gary Jubelin: Catching A Killer with Hedley Thomas (Part 1) with full transcript and summary​

Transcribed: view now.

Update: 2023-11-18
Duration: 00:47:57
Summary: In this episode of 'I Catch Killers', host Gary Jubelin and journalist Hedley Thomas discuss the complex investigation into Lynette Dawson's disappearance and suspected murder.

Thomas highlights the impact of his podcast 'The Teacher's Pet' on public awareness and the justice process, revealing systemic failures in handling cases of missing women in Australia. The discussion touches on the troubling personal dynamics, societal issues surrounding domestic violence, and the manipulative behaviors exhibited by Lynette's husband, Chris Dawson. The emotional toll on families and the implications of unverified sightings on investigations are also explored, emphasizing the necessity for investigative integrity.

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Shownotes: A school teacher, a missing wife, and the student caught in the middle. The Teacher’s Pet was the podcast that captivated the world. In this

special episode of the I Catch Killers podcast, award-winning journalist Hedley Thomas joins host Gary Jubelin to discuss the ins and outs of the investigation into Lynette Dawson’s disappearance — ultimately landing murderer Chris Dawson behind bars.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bonus episode: Hedley reads Chapter 1 of his new book, The Teacher's Pet with full transcript and summary​

Transcribed: view now.

Update: 2023-11-10
Duration: 00:25:30
Summary: In this bonus episode, Hedley Thomas introduces Chapter 1 of his new book, 'The Teacher's Pet', detailing the complex case of Lyn and Chris Dawson

and Lyn's mysterious disappearance in 1982. Thomas emphasizes his dedication to reviving this cold case through an investigative podcast, sharing his emotional connection to the story, and the collaborative efforts necessary to gather new evidence. His exploration aims to shed light on the dark secrets behind Lyn's seemingly perfect life, emphasizing that the truth of her vanishing deserves renewed attention and investigation.

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Shownotes: Listen to Hedley Thomas reading Chapter 1 of his new book, The Teacher's Pet. The book is published by Pan Macmillan and is available at

all good bookstores, and wherever you get audiobooks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From The Front: Three more years for Chris Dawson with full transcript and summary​

Transcribed: view now.

Update: 2023-09-15
Duration: 00:18:28
Summary: In this episode of 'The Teacher's Pet', host Hedley Thomas discusses Chris Dawson's recent sentencing to three years in prison for unlawful carnal knowledge of

a 16-year-old pupil, adding an extra year to his existing sentence for the murder of his first wife, Lynne. The episode sheds light on Dawson's manipulative behavior towards the victim, who was particularly vulnerable due to her troubled background. The implications of the sentencing are significant, with new laws affecting his parole eligibility, and civil actions being pursued against the state for its handling of the case, indicating broader systemic issues.

Go to PodExtra AI's episode page (From The Front: Three more years for Chris Dawson) to play with real-time transcript and view complete AI-processed content: summary, mindmap, topics, takeaways, transcript, keywords and highlights.

Shownotes: Grey, shrunken and hiding his face, Chris Dawson is sentenced for unlawful carnal knowledge of a schoolgirl. Hedley Thomas joins us. Find out more about

The Front podcast here and read about this story and more on The Australian's website or search for The Australian in your app store. This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet, and edited by Lia Tsamoglou. Original music is composed by Jasper Leak.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Front: Inside podcasting with Hedley Thomas and David Murray with full transcript and summary​

Transcribed: view now.

Update: 2023-09-12
Duration: 00:43:52
Summary: In this episode of 'The Front', Hedley Thomas, Claire Harvey, and David Murray explore the evolution of podcasting in investigative journalism, focusing on their successful

projects like 'The Teacher's Pet.' They discuss the critical role of storytelling, the importance of audience engagement, and the resources needed for impactful narratives. The conversation also addresses the complex relationship between journalists and police in crime reporting, the influence of the Me Too movement, and how true crime podcasts engage the public in unresolved cases, ultimately highlighting the transformative nature of podcasts in contemporary journalism.

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Shownotes: Hedley Thomas, Claire Harvey and David Murray reveal how our smash-hit podcasts get made. Find out more about The Front podcast here and read about

this story and more on The Australian's website or search for The Australian in your app store. This episode of The Front is presented and produced by Kristen Amiet, and edited by Lia Tsamoglou. Our regular host is Claire Harvey and original music is composed by Jasper Leak.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 16 - Arrest with full AI transcript and summary​

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Update: 2018-12-06
Duration: 00:45:17
Shownotes: Nearly 37 years after Lyn Dawson disappeared, police have arrested Chris Dawson over the alleged murder of his wife, taking him into custody and preparing

his extradition to Sydney where he will face court. When the knock on the door came, the 70-year-old was calm. The timing may have been a surprise, but he’d known for a long time that this day may come. Calling the matter "a cold case murder", the magistrate denied Dawson's application for bail citing a high flight risk, and said the crown alleged domestic violence allegations against Chris Dawson would be raised in evidence, as well as testimony from JC. But Dawson's family believe he will be cleared, releasing a statement saying that he is innocent and that there is clear and uncontested evidence that Lyn Dawson was alive long after she left her husband and daughters. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 15 - Digging with full AI transcript and summary​

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Update: 2018-11-29
Duration: 01:29:31
Shownotes: Following an incredible groundswell of community interest ignited by this podcast, September saw a stunning development in the case with police returning to the Bayview

house to conduct a new and more thorough search for the remains of Lyn Dawson. This dig was a necessity - not just to try to uncover new evidence, but also to restore public confidence and to prove to Lyn’s family that the police, this time, would do their jobs properly. Meanwhile, new witnesses come forth with compelling stories of encounters with Chris Dawson and his explosive temper. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 14 - Decision Time with full AI transcript and summary​

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Update: 2018-08-17
Duration: 02:02:14
Shownotes: After 36 long years, failed police investigations, two coronial inquests, and countless appeals from Lyn's family, the case is stronger now - and once again

it's in the hands of the office of the DPP. Regardless of their decision, the NSW police commissioner pledges to keep investigations going, and he plans to order a much more significant dig at the Bayview property. In this episode, former coroner Carl Milovanovich explains why he believes a jury would convict Chris over the probable murder of Lyn - and why the case still troubles him today, 15 years after his inquest in a Sydney courtroom. And Lyn's daughter Shanelle has final words in honour of her mother. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 13 - The System with full AI transcript and summary​

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Update: 2018-08-10
Duration: 01:30:43
Shownotes: Before the first coronial inquest, police tap phones in the lead-up to digging in a relatively small area around the swimming pool at Bayview, where

they find a woman's cardigan. The crime scene officer on that dig describes what he believed were stab marks in the garment. He suspects Lyn's remains are still on the block - and may have been narrowly missed because the dig was restricted for budgetary reasons. The coronial inquests get under way and they are bad for Chris - but the system fails Lyn and her family again. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 12 - Momentum with full AI transcript and summary​

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Update: 2018-08-02
Duration: 01:12:56
Shownotes: The detective Damian Loone escalates his murder investigations, interviewing many witnesses in a quest for the truth. And the area of "soft soil" comes back

into focus.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 11 - Loyalty with full AI transcript and summary​

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Update: 2018-07-26
Duration: 01:15:24
Shownotes: Chris Dawson was interviewed by police in 1991, and then never again. But Sue Strath, Lyn's loyal friend, kept agitating for a further investigation, and

in 1998 Detective Damian Loone was assigned to the case. Curiously, the earlier investigation notes had vanished.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 10 - Damaged with full AI transcript and summary​

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Update: 2018-07-19
Duration: 01:24:12
Shownotes: After six difficult years, the volatile marriage was over. JC felt she had become ‘disposable’, as Lyn had been years before, and feared for her

life. She fled back to Sydney, telling friends she was convinced Chris had murdered his first wife. In this episode, you'll hear what Chris Dawson told detectives when he was interviewed in 1991. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 9 - Dreamworld with full AI transcript and summary​

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Update: 2018-07-12
Duration: 01:04:05
Shownotes: Leaving the dark shadow of Lyn’s disappearance behind, Chris moved his young new wife and children north to Queensland, into a home on acreage near

the newly-opened theme park, Dreamworld. Isolated behind high fences, JC lived the life of a 'Stepford wife', and was expected to meet all of her husband's demands ... including continuing to look like a school girl. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 8 - Hopeless with full AI transcript and summary​

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Update: 2018-07-05
Duration: 01:06:01
Shownotes: Lyn Dawson had been missing for three years when her worried friend Sue wrote to the Office of the Ombudsman - an independent government watchdog

  • about the lack of police action in the case. We go looking and recover a long-forgotten file after decades in storage, and the contents highlight the hopeless responses of police to a probable murder - and raise more questions, as public anger grows. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 7 - The Rings with full AI transcript and summary​

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Update: 2018-06-28
Duration: 01:07:10
Shownotes: On January 15, 1984, Chris and JC wed at Bayview. With no veil, and in a non-traditional dress, the young bride looked like a flower

girl. On her hand, she wore Lyn's rings. Chris's brother Paul and his wife Marilyn were witnesses.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 6 - Gone with full AI transcript and summary​

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Update: 2018-06-21
Duration: 00:57:38
Shownotes: In the days and months following Lyn's disappearance, Chris Dawson put forth a range of suggestions as to her possible whereabouts. Perhaps she had gone

north to think about their marriage. Maybe she'd joined a cult, or a religious group. But whatever he said, he clearly believed she was never going to return, as he promptly moved JC back into the family home where she became the new mother to his two children. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 5 - A Lovely Drink with full AI transcript and summary​

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Update: 2018-06-14
Duration: 01:04:37
Shownotes: In January 1982, as most Australians enjoyed a carefree holiday season, Lyn Dawson was trying to pick up the tattered threads of her marriage. JC

was taking tentative steps to extricate herself from her affair with Lyn's husband. And Chris Dawson was desperately seeking solutions. In this episode, a damning piece of evidence - once thought lost - is recovered, and it is something that should be vitally important to the Director of Public Prosecutions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 4 - Soft Soil with full AI transcript and summary​

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Update: 2018-06-07
Duration: 01:02:16
Shownotes: Humiliated and broken by her husband's affair, Lyn finally asked JC to leave the Bayview home. The teenager walked out, and into the home of

Chris's twin brother, Paul, a few hundred metres down the same street. Tensions continued to rise. And then suddenly, Lyn vanished. Years later, JC suggested Lyn's remains were buried at Bayview, in the 'soft soil' - outside what were her daughters' bedroom windows. In this episode, a surprise new witness speaks publicly for the first time about something he was told in 1987, indicating the possible whereabouts of a body.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 3 - Bruised with full AI transcript and summary​

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Update: 2018-05-31
Duration: 00:49:40
Shownotes: As Chris brazenly moved his teenage lover into the family home, Lyn saw the cracks in her marriage widen. It was crumbling all around her.

Unable to believe the worst of her husband, she responded with denial, but to her family and friends Lyn's suffering was clear. And the toll was not just emotional. In this episode, a former babysitter for the Dawsons speaks for the first time about the violence she witnessed in the home.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 2 - Cromer High with full AI transcript and summary​

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Update: 2018-05-23
Duration: 00:55:32
Shownotes: Cromer High School's pin-up sports teacher Chris Dawson pursued high school student JC with the sort of relentless determination he showed as a star of

rugby league. Chris had model good looks, an easy charm, and students looked up to him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 1 - Bayview with full AI transcript and summary​

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Update: 2018-05-18
Duration: 00:41:13
Shownotes: Lyn was a devoted wife and mother. She adored her husband, but he betrayed and humiliated her in the most callous way. Now she's gone

  • missing, a likely victim of murder. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.