Dawn O'Donnell

Originally broadcast on ABC's True Stories in 1993, Feed Them to the Cannibals tells the story of Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. It was the first time cameras were allowed at Sleaze Ball and the Mardi Gras Party.

Dawn O’Donnell was a convent girl who became a professional ice skater, travelled the world and then landed up in 1950s Australia, a penniless lesbian. By the time of her death in 2007, she had stormed through Sydney’s gay underworld and built herself an empire of bars, clubs, steam rooms, sex shops and drag shows, inspiring The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. This fascinating documentary explores the mythology (was she a mobster? an arsonist? a murderer?) and life of this shrewd, silver-haired, butch businesswoman.

The groundbreaking Australian documentary on lesbians, presented by Anne Deveson, first broadcast in February 1966. Amongst those interviewed are Dawn O'Donnell (off camera at the beginning of the documentary) and psychiatrist Dr Neil McConaghy (the Australian 'expert' in aversion therapy). Some women are interviewed in shadow or close-up to disguise their identity. Women speak about being discriminated when applying for jobs against because of their sexuality. Dr Neil McConarghy is interviewed about his shock therapy work to change sexual orientation. Surprisingly Dr McConarghy says that homosexuality might be of benefit to society as creative traits or traits of non-conformity might give society as a whole the ability to survive.