Australians (also known as Michael Willesee's Australians) is a thirteen part anthology documentary drama series which screened on the Seven Network in 1988.
A lavishly illustrated spin-off coffee table book was released the same year. It was written by Roger McDonald and published Bantam Books.
The series was not the idea of Willesee's, but his company, Transmedia was involved.
Contents
Episodes
The episodes focused on famous individuals (with one exception covering soldier settlers):
Les Darcy – starring Peter Phelps
Private John Simpson – starring Robert Willox
Vivian Bullwinkel – starring Rachel Ward
Mary Mackillop – starring Lorna Lesley
Lottie Lyell – starring Odile Le Clezio
Lola Montez – starring Linda Cropper
Clyde Fenton – starring Scott Burgess
Jack Davey – starring Rhys McConnochie
Betty Cuthbert – starring Helen Mutkins
Gordon Bennett – starring Bill Kerr
Errol Flynn – starring Christopher Stollery
John Norton – starring John Ewart
Episode 1: Les Darcy
March 1, 1988. Written by John Upton, directed by Kevin Dobson.
Cast
Peter Phelps as Les Darcy
Gia Carides as Winnie O'Sullivan
Gus Mercurio as Tex Rickard
Annie Byron as Mrs O'Sullivan
Robin Howering as William Hughes
Nikki Coghill as Lilly Molloy
Michael Caton as Mr Darcy
Kerry Walker as Mrs Darcy
Greg Stone as Mick King
Ned Manning as Mick Hawkins
Synopsis
Les Darcy was a champion Australian boxer, whose promising future was cut short when his mother prevented him from joining the Australian troops in World War I (leading to accusations of cowardice), and when he met an untimely death at age 21 due to septicaemia.
Episode 2: Private John Simpson
March 8, 1988. Written by Roger McDonald. Directed by Henri Safran.
Cast
Robert Willox as John Simpson
Peter Fisher as Private Grimshaw
Lyndon Harris as Captain Fry
Kevin Healy as Col. Ryan
Mark McAskill as Private Pratley
Vic Rooney as Lr. Col. Sutton
Peter Turnbull as Private Gillies
David Wenham as Wounded Soldier (uncredited)
Synopsis
Private John (Jack) Simpson was a stretcher bearer during World War I, who went into the line of fire in Gallipoli, rescuing wounded soldiers. In the absence of stretchers, Simpson borrowed a donkey to carry the wounded back to base camp. His deeds of bravery, made him a war hero and an Australian icon.
Episode 3: Vivian Bullwinkel
March 15, 1988. Written by Anne Brooksbank. Directed by Rod Hardy.
Cast
Rachel Ward as Vivian Bullwinkel
Barry Quinn as Private Kinsley
Julie Hamilton
Jo Kennedy
Synopsis
Vivian Bullwinkel was a volunteer nurse during World War 2. While being evacuated from Singapore, her ship sank – upon which she was captured and shot by the Japanese occupying Banka Island.
Episode 4: Mary MacKillop
March 22, 1988. Written by John Misto. Directed by Mark Callan.
Cast
Lorna Lesley as Mary MacKillop
Kerry Armstrong as Matron
Annie Byron
Nicholas Eadie
George Whaley
Synopsis
Sister Mary MacKillop founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, a congregation of nuns who established schools and welfare institutions throughout Australasia, with an emphasis on education for the poor. The order put itself outside the control of the local bishop, breeding resentment within areas of the Catholic church.
Episode 5: Lottie Lyell
March 29, 1988. Written by Anne Brooksbank. Directed by Ben Lewin
Cast
Odile Le Clezio as Lottie Lyell
Robert Coleby as Raymond Longford
Michele Fawdon as Melena Longford
Judi Farr as Ma (Mrs Lyell)
Joy Hruby as Mrs Whittle
Jeff Truman as Arthur Tauchert
Danny Adcock as Arthur Higgins
Peter Adams as Mr Dutton
Synopsis
Lottie Lyell, widely regarded as Australia's first film star, also worked behind the cameras as a screenwriter, filmmaker, art director, costume designer, editor, and business manager. She significantly contributed to the Australian film industry during the silent era.
Episode 6: Lola Montez
April 5, 1988. Written by Tony Morphett. Directed by Ian Gilmour.
Cast
Linda Cropper as Lola Montez
Nicholas Eadie as Folland
Peter Whitford as Mr Crosby
Pat Thomson as Mrs Crosby
Bruce Barry as Wellesley
Danny Adcock as Harry Seekamp
Warwick Moss as Captain
Ben Gabriel as San Francisco doctor
Robyn Forsythe as Auditionee #1
Synopsis
Lola Montez was an internationally renowned singer and dancer, whose world tour included an Australian leg, entertaining miners during the gold rush of the 1850s.
Episode 7: Clyde Fenton
April 12, 1988. Directed by John Power.
Cast
Scott Burgess as Clyde Fenton
Kerry Armstrong as Martin
Bruce Spence as Dr Cecil Cook
Martin Vaughan as Mr Jackson
Synopsis
Clyde Fenton was an exceptional pilot and surgeon, who pioneered the creation of the successful Flying Doctor Service. His valiant efforts made him a hero to the people of the Northern Territory.
Episode 8: Jack Davey
April 19, 1987. Written by Geoffrey Atherden. Directed by George Whaley.
Cast
Rhys McConnochie as Jack Davey
Shane Briant as Tony Ferguson
Loene Carmen as Betty Fitzgerald
Syd Conabere as Angus Moore
John Derum as Len Mauger
Les Foxcroft as The Doctor
Ron Haddrick as Tom Stone
Julie Hamilton as Gwennie Moore
Alan David Lee as Arthur Cushing
Martin Vaughan as Ced Fitzgerald
Synopsis
Australian singer and radio personality Jack Davey was one of the first to enter the first around-Australia car rally, the Redex Trial, amid a battle with his health.
Episode 9: Betty Cuthbert
April 26, 1988. Written by Denise Morgan. Directed by Kathy Mueller.
Cast
Helen Mutkins as Betty Cuthbert
Deborah Kennedy as June Ferguson
Lynette Curran as Mrs Cuthbert
Neil Fitzpatrick as Speaker
Synopsis
Betty Cuthbert was an Australian athlete and a four-time Olympic champion, dubbed Australia's 'Golden Girl'. During her career, she set multiple world records and endeared herself to the sporting world through her talent, courage and positive attitude.
Episode 10: General Gordon Bennett
May 3, 1988. Written by John Misto.
Cast
Bill Kerr as Gordon Bennett
Andrew Lloyde
Edmund Pegge as General Percival
Synopsis
General Gordon Bennett was a highly decorated Australian army general who served in both World War I and World War II. After Singapore fell to the Japanese in 1942, he fled back to Australia, while his men became prisoners of the Imperial Japanese Army. After the war, his escape spurned a Royal Commission and military enquiry.
Episode 11: Soldier Settlers
May 10, 1988. Directed by George Ogilvie.
Synopsis
Following World Wars I and II, Australian farming estates were divided up into small farms and given to war veterans by the Federal Government, in an effort to populate the Australian inland, including the Durkin Family.
Episode 12: Errol Flynn
May 24, 1988. Written by John Lonie. Directed by Michael Carson.
Cast
Christopher Stollery as Errol Flynn
Nell Schofield as Scotty
Timothy Conigrave as Cooper-Smith
Terence Donovan as Old Errol
Rhys McConnochie as Scott Dumaresq
Jeanette Cronin as Irene
Paul Sonkkila as Bill Stubbs
Deidre Rubenstein as Nance
Synopsis
Errol Flynn was an Australian actor who achieved international fame during Hollywood's Golden Age, and was particularly known for his romantic swashbuckler roles.
Episode 13: John Norton
May 17, 1988.
Cast
John Ewart as John Norton
Bartholomew John as Dick Meagher
James Lovell as Ezra Norton
Synopsis
John Norton was a journalist, editor and one of Australia's earliest and most successful newspaper barons. His ambitious nature saw him elected to the New South Wales Parliament three times, and he was considered one of Australia's most controversial public figures.