THE SECRET MILLIONAIRE
Tonight at 9.30pm on WIN
The word is out. Australia has fallen in love with The Secret Millionaire – WIN’s hit new
feel-good series narrated by Russell Crowe.
Each week, some of Australia’s richest people are taken away from their lavish, jet-setting
lifestyles and sent undercover into impoverished neighbourhoods around the country.
Challenged with living on a minimum wage, the millionaires immerse themselves into the lives of
hard-living Australians and befriend those in need. At the end of their stay the secret millionaires
reveal the true reason for their mission and give out hundreds of thousands of dollars of their
own money to people in need.
In tonight’s episode, we meet Derek Leddie, who is taking a year off work after selling his
highly successful market research company, The Leading Edge (annual turnover $30 million).
His journey takes him from his beautiful harbourside apartment in Sydney, where he lives with
his wife and young son, undercover to Newcastle, two hours north of Sydney.
In the last 20 years Newcastle, the second largest city in NSW, has undergone major social
upheaval due to the decline of the mining industry in the Hunter region. As well as dealing with
issues of unemployment, homelessness and poverty, the area has had an influx of refugees –
many who are struggling to find employment in a new and foreign country.
In Newcastle, Derek meets and works at Penola House, a centre run by two energetic and
charismatic nuns, Sister Betty and Sister Diana. The centre provides a wide range of services to
refugees.
He also travels an hour from Newcastle to Destiny Haven, a live-in centre for women with issues
such as drug addiction, self-harm and anorexia. It is run by two former heroin addicts, Janine
and Lewis, and their children.
Along the way he meets Joanna and Grant Cuss-Kelly, whose seven-year-old son Bailey suffers
from debilitating juvenile arthritis.
Away from his family and the life that he knows, Derek is forced to fend for himself. The journey
sees Derek trying to find the best path to help some of the people he has met – all of whom
have touched him through their work and commitment.
For further information:
WIN Network Publicity
02 4223 4199
www.wintv.com.au
Thursday, 22 October 2009
WIN, a WIN Corporation company, is the only 100% Australian owned commercial network. WIN reaches across six states of
Australia – including three capital cities and the nation’s capital. Its transmissions span the largest geographical area in the world,
from Cairns to Hobart, southeast South Australia, Adelaide and the entire state of Western Australia.