Season 1 · Episode 2

Episode 2: The Colonel

May 22, 202552m 17s

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Show Notes

Johnny Regan's early years were completely dominated by his obsessive mother, Clare, nicknamed "The Colonel", who frowned upon his friendships, didn’t allow him to play sports, and publicly horsewhipped her young son.

She was married to Alf Regan, the town drunk, the pair having met at The Australian Hotel where Clare worked as a barmaid. With the marriage over by the mid-1950s, Clare took her son to Sydney, starting a new life in the mean streets of Darlinghurst, where the gangster takes shape.

In this episode, Matthew Condon visits the country NSW town of Young to retrace the childhood of Stewart John Regan and delve into his troubled early years.

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Topics

Stewart John ReganStewart ReganShotgun Johnny ReganThe MagicianClare ReganThe Gangster’s Ghost podcastMatt CondonMatthew CondonThe AustralianThe Australian podcaststrue crimetrue crime podcastNSW crimeNSW police corruptionmurderSydney gangland warSydney gangsgangs Australiahistoric crime AustraliaYoung NSWStewart John Regan childhoodThe Colonel gangster motherClare Mary RhallAlfred Frederick ReganYoung NSW crime historyThe Gangster's Ghost podcastMatthew Condon true crimeKelly Slater ReganAustralian Hotel Young NSWLiverpool Street DarlinghurstChild abuse Australia historyAustralian criminal psychology formationFamily dysfunction criminal rootsSt Joseph's School YoungChristian Brothers CollegeBrian English Young NSWDavid Pattinson Young NSWMichael Rule Young schoolmateJohn Woods Young schoolmateKevin Powderly Young schoolmateChildhood trauma criminal developmentAustralian alcoholism family impactThe Australian podcastRural Australian upbringing criminalStock whip punishment childYoung NSW cherry capitalAustralian gangster origin storyRegan family historyAustralian criminal family dynamicsMother-son criminal psychologyCatholic school Australia 1950sFather Crow Young NSWAustralian domestic violence historyClare Regan divorce proceedingsAustralian rural crime backgroundsMurrumburrah NSWChild welfare 1950s AustraliaAustralian criminal childhoodJudge Berne divorce caseYoung NSW 1940s lifeCriminal psychology developmentAustralian true crime podcastChild discipline 1950s AustraliaNSW country town criminal originsAustralian police familiesRegan family secretsAustralian Hotel brothel historyKelly Slater Regan ex-copAustralian child neglect historyCriminal psychology formationNSW criminal family treesAustralian crime family generationsViolent mothering impactYoung NSW memorable charactersCriminal childhood environmentAustralian true crime historyCountry boy to gangster evolutionAustralian criminal autobiographyNSW rural criminal beginningsAustralian criminal family legacies

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