Glossary:
- Grass castle: a grandiose home built to show off wealth. The nickname links their occupiers with alleged involvement in the illegal drugs trade
- Honour killing: a murder, usually of a woman, motivated by the belief that the victim has dishonoured the family
- Artificial bottlenecks: when the mafia eliminates competition and direct retailers to use its own resources in the supply chain. Often people are unaware they have been victims of this process
After driving nearly 500 kilometers from Griffith - stopping at Hay, Euston and Buronga - Carlo and Anna visit the town of Mildura, on the banks of the Murray River.
Famous for its food and tourism, Mildura has managed to hide its dark past from the eyes of the casual visitors.
Mildura has had a large Italian immigrant population since the 1950s. Past incidents of racism led to mistrust between cultures and impacted the relationship between the Italian community and the police.
A teacher accused the Italians and the Calabrians of being dishonest... and basically mafiosi. I wasn't the only Italian in the class but, you know, I was the only one that pushed back.Mildura artist Luci Callipari Marcuzzi
But unlike Griffith, there was never a high profile incident like the disappearance of Donald MacKay. Mildura was able to fly under the radar, even though mafia related crime was rampant in the 1980s.
Anna gives Carlo some behind-the-scenes insights into 'ndrangheta practices such as extortion and creating artificial bottlenecks. She then reveals why accepting a paid coffee in Calabria is a very complicated affair.
Receiving a coffee paid by an unknown person in Calabria could be tricky: the hidden meanings behind the offer are multiple. Credit: SBS
“My Australian Mafia Roadtrip” is an SBS Audio podcast about the history and the psychology of the ‘ndrangheta Down Under. Find it in your podcast app such as the SBS Audio app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or LiSTNR.
Host: Carlo Oreglia
Special Guest: Anna Sergi
Commissioning Editor: Joel Supple
Sound Design and Mix: Max Gosford
Tile Art: 50sVintageDame/illustrationroom.com.au
