Australians (TV series)

Australians (also known as Michael Willesee's Australians) is a thirteen part anthology documentary drama series which screened on the Seven Network in 1988.[1]

A lavishly illustrated spin-off coffee table book was released the same year. It was written by Roger McDonald and published Bantam Books.[2]

The series was not the idea of Willesee's, but his company, Transmedia was involved.[3]

## Episodes[edit]

The episodes focused on famous individuals (with one exception covering soldier settlers):

* Les Darcy⁣ – starring Peter Phelps
* Private John Simpson⁣ – starring Robert Willox
* Vivian Bullwinkle⁣ – starring Rachel Ward
* Mary Mackillop⁣ – starring Lorna Lesley
* Lottie Lyell⁣ – starring Odile de Clezio
* Lola Montez \- starring Linda Cropper
* Clyde Fenton
* Jack Davey⁣ – starring Rhys McConnochie
* Betty Cuthbert
* Gordon Bennett
* John Norton \- starring John Ewart
* Errol Flynn \- starring Christopher Stollery

## Ep One – Les Darcy[edit]

March 1, 1988. Written by John Upton, directed by Kevin Dobson.[4]

### Cast[edit]

* Peter Phelps as Les Darcy
* Gia Carides as Winnie O'Sullivan
* Gus Mercurio as Tex Rickard
* Robin Howering as William Hughes
* Nikki Coghill as Lilly Molloy

### Reception[edit]

The Age called it "a thumbnail sketch".[5]

## Ep Two – Private John Simpson[edit]

March 8, 1988. Written by Roger McDonald. Directed by Henri Safran.

### Cast[edit]

* Robert Willox as John Simpson

## Ep Three - Vivian Bullwinkle[edit]

March 15, 1988. Written by Anne Brooksbank. Directed by Rod Hardy.

### Cast[edit]

* Rachel Ward as Vivian Bullwinkle
* Barry Quinn as Private Kinsley

## Ep Four - Mary MacKillop[edit]

March 22, 1988. Written by John Misto. Directed by Mark Callan.

### Cast[edit]

* Lorna Lesley as Mary MacKillop
* Kerry Armstrong as Matron

## Ep Five - Lottie Lyell[edit]

March 29, 1988. Written by Anne Brooksbank. Directed by Ben Lewin

### Cast[edit]

* Odile de Clezio as Lottie Lyell
* Michelle Fawdon as Melena Longford
* Judi Farr as Ma (Mrs Lyell)
* Joy Hruby as Mrs Whittle

## Ep Six - Lola Montez[edit]

April 5, 1988. Written by Tony Morphett. Directed by Ian Gilmour.

### Cast[edit]

* Linda Cropper as Lola Montez
* Nicholas Eadie
* Peter Whitford
* Danny Adcock as Harry Seekamp

## Ep Seven - Clyde Fenton[edit]

April 12, 1988. Directed by John Power.

### Cast[edit]

* Scott Burgess
* Kerry Armstrong
* Bruce Spence as Cecil Cook

## Ep Eight - Jack Davey[edit]

April 19, 1987. Written by Geoffrey Atherden. Directed by George Whaley.

### Cast[edit]

* Rhys McConnochie

## Ep Nine - Betty Cuthbert[edit]

April 26, 1988. Written by Denise Morgan. Directed by Kathy Mueller.

### Cast[edit]

* Deborah Kennedy as June Ferguson
* Lynette Curran as Mrs Cuthbert

## Ep Ten - Gordon Bennett[edit]

May 3, 1988. Written by John Misto.

## Ep Eleven - Soldier Settlers[edit]

May 10, 1988. Directed by George Ogilvie.

## Ep Twelve - John Norton[edit]

May 17, 1988.

### Cast[edit]

* John Ewart as John Norton

## Ep Thirteen - Errol Flynn[edit]

May 24, 1988. Written by John Lonie. Directed by Michael Carson.

### Cast[edit]

* Christopher Stollery as Errol Flynn
* Nell Schofield
* Timothy Conigrave
* Terence Donovan (actor)
* Rhys McConnochie
* Jeanette Cronin

## See also[edit]

* List of Australian television series

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Australian Television: Michael Willesee's Australians: Episode guide".
2. ^ "A selection of lively, multifaceted Australians". The Canberra Times. Vol. 63, no. 19, 417. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 4 December 1988. p. 23. Retrieved 27 November 2020 - via National Library of Australia.
3. ^ Oliver, Robin (29 February 1988). "Bicentennial Drama: It's a Knockout". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 68.
4. ^ Corris, Peter (29 February 1988). "Mike Wilessee's Australians Less Darcy". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 75.
5. ^ Hooks, Barbara (1 March 1988). "Telescope". The Age. p. 14.

## External links[edit]

* Australians at IMDb
* Australians at the Australian Television Information Archive

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